Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 460

Roster decisions loom as injured SF Giants begin rehab assignments

SAN FRANCISCO — If the Giants’ lineup began to resemble that of their Triple-A team as they called up fill-in after fill-in amid their recent string of injuries, well then this weekend they begin to return the favor.

The Sacramento River Cats’ lineup will be full of major-leaguers starting Friday, when shortstop outfielder Michael Conforto joins Austin Slater on a rehab assignment, and shortstop Nick Ahmed is set to join them a day later as the Giants’ contingent of injured veterans near their returns.

All three could potentially be activated on the Giants’ upcoming road trip, manager Bob Melvin said, though Slater may require more time than the others.

“Obviously with all the injuries these guys have, we want to make sure they’re ready to go when they get here and there’s still nothing lingering,” Melvin said. “We’ll see how long that takes.”

Out since May 11, Slater (concussion) has played two rehab games and gone hitless in six at-bats with a walk and one strikeout and has more work to do to get back in shape after being entirely shut down from activity while his concussion symptoms lingered for more than a week.

Ahmed (wrist) has been out since May 10, while Conforto (hamstring) landed on the injured list two days later.

Despite the absence of the three veterans, the Giants have played their best baseball of the season over the past three weeks. With contributions from Luis Matos and Heliot Ramos in the outfield and Brett Wisely and Marco Luciano at shortstop, they have gone 12-5 since Ahmed kicked off the string of injuries.

With Jung Hoo Lee out for the season — his surgery is scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles with Dr. Neal ElAttrache — Matos’ spot in center field should be secure even if he has cooled off some since his scalding start. And with LaMonte Wade Jr. (hamstring) looking at a monthlong absence, the Giants should have no trouble fitting another left-handed hitter on the roster when Conforto is ready to be activated.

After committing five errors in five games, Luciano had begun to lose playing time to Wisely at shortstop before leaving Wednesday’s game in the second inning with tightness in his hamstring. On Friday, the 22-year-old rookie was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, and Casey Schmitt was called up to take his spot on the roster.

With Ahmed due back first, he will get the first shot to reclaim the starting role at shortstop. He was batting .236 with a .564 OPS when he landed on the IL, compared to Luciano’s marks of .375 and .986 OPS in 10 games, but provided far more surehanded defense.

“A lot of times these things have a way of working their way out before you have to make a decision one way or the other,” Melvin said when asked about Luciano’s role when both shortstops are healthy. “It’s just getting some confidence at times which at this level can be tough for guys. Offensively he certainly has not had any problems with that. There’s just been a few plays defensively that can shake your confidence a bit. But he has the ability to do it. Just get him out there and get him a few games in a row where he’s confident in what he’s doing.”

Ray begins rehab assignment

A few rungs further down the minor-league ladder, Robbie Ray also began a rehab assignment that was an even longer time coming.

The 31-year-old left-hander is scheduled to throw one inning in a rookie-level Arizona Complex League game on Tuesday. Following a 25-pitch live batting practice session Thursday, the outing will be Ray’s first time pitching in a game since undergoing Tommy John and flexor tendon surgeries last spring.

“To actually get in games, that’s kind of the start of where you look at the clock and kind of envision when you might see him,” Melvin said, confirming the former Cy Young winner was still on track to return sometime around the All-Star break. “We’ll just see how these first couple of games go.”

The $1 billion push for eco-friendly playgrounds

With yearly temperatures continuing to rise, children on the Central Coast are more at risk for heat-related illnesses at school according to research. School playgrounds present an interesting dilemma, as a place students can thrive in nature, but are at risk while doing so.

To combat this issue, the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit organization headquartered in San Francisco, is campaigning for a $1 billion allocation for green schoolyards to be included in this year’s School Facilities Bond. Green schoolyards incorporate nature into a playground and add needed shade. The allocation would help schools throughout the state tear up asphalt, plant trees, build canopies, invest in urban gardens and create more community spaces.

The School Facilities Bond is used to pay for infrastructure updates and help with general maintenance and upkeep of schools. But Juan Altamirano from the Trust for Public Land said this bond could be used for even more.

“The legislature and the governor have a tremendous opportunity to reimagine and implement a significantly transformative piece of legislation … to shield (kids) and protect them,” said Altamirano, who is director of government affairs for the trust.

According to a UCLA Luskin Center study, if it’s 92 degrees outside, asphalt can reach up to 149 degrees, while a rubber mat can get as hot as 165 degrees. A study done by the National Institute of Health showed that out of 174 sampled schools, there was an average amount of 7.6% shaded play space, while 21 schools had no shade on the playgrounds.

The study also found that schools where more students received free or reduced lunches, were the schools with less shade. The trust is aware of this disparity and it is one of its main motivations.

“What we are proposing is $1 billion in school bond funding to move into those schools as quickly as possible,” said Altamirano. “For us, equity is front and center and making sure that kids who don’t have access to (shade) in historically marginalized areas, that they be the first folks in line to benefit from this program.”

A separate nonprofit, Green Schoolyards America, started an initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist schools in creating design concepts for outdoor learning. Monterey Bay Charter School participated in the program for its Pacific Grove and Seaside campuses.

The concepts consisted of using wooden stumps from fallen trees on the campus grounds and donated wood, according to Candace Villarta, communications and development manager for Monterey Bay Charter.

The concept designs were a success and were implemented. “It’s very important for (students) to be outdoors, there’s so much to be learned from the outdoor environment,” said Villarta.

Monterey Bay Charter School implemented outdoor classrooms with help from Green Schoolyards America in 2021. Students still use these outdoor spaces. (Courtesy of Monterey Bay Charter School)

Even though the majority of learning is back inside, students are still consistently utilizing and enjoying the outdoor learning space, said Villarta.

In 2018, the Trust for Public Land worked with the Oakland Unified School District to make its playgrounds more eco-friendly. They assisted four schools in developing green schoolyards that created a more nature-focused environment.

In 2022, $121 million was secured from the state legislature and governor for the Cal Fire Urban and Community Forestry grant to build green schoolyards across the state. The trust and its partners helped secure this funding.

The trust’s focus was to create “equitable access to greenspace, mitigate air pollution, reduce flooding, combat heat island effects and provide much needed park access,” according to the grant. The funding was also dispersed to 164 schools throughout the state, including the Central Coast, according to Altamirano.

“That impact has been tremendous. You’re going to see 164 schools statewide be transformed into more inviting spaces for kids to play and enjoy, you know, being shielded away from extreme heat events,” said Altamirano.

Senator Steve Glazer and Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi have both presented two bills for construction and modernization of schools in the state. Both bills propose a $14.5-15 billion bond be placed on the statewide ballot in November.

Glazer’s SB 28 would allocate $9 billion for K-12 schools and $2 billion each for California Community Colleges, the CSU system and the UC system. Assemblyman Muratsuchi’s AB 247 proposes a $14 million bond to be distributed to school facilities for transitional kindergarten, K-12 schools and California Community Colleges. The exact allocation of AB 247 has not yet been determined.

A poll conducted by the Trust for Public Land showed that 71% of respondents support the transformation of asphalt playgrounds into green spaces to lessen heat risks as well as establish more community parks. Some 53% of respondents said that they would be more likely to vote for the $14 billion bond if green schoolyards were included in the fund allocation.

“The climate is changing and so should our schools,” said Altamirano. “Children are the most susceptible to extreme heat illnesses and we have the opportunity to actually change that dynamic by investing $1 billion in this.”

President Biden endorses latest Gaza cease-fire proposal

By Aamer Madhani, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville | Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday detailed a three-phase deal proposed by Israel to Hamas militants that he says would lead to the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza and could end the grinding, nearly 8-month-old Mideast war.

Biden added that Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel as he urged Israelis and Hamas to come to a deal to release the remaining hostages for an extended cease-fire.

The Democratic president in remarks from the White House called the proposal “a road map to an enduring cease-fire and the release of all hostages.”

Biden said the first phase of the proposed deal would would last for six weeks and would include a “full and complete cease-fire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

American hostages would be released at this stage, and remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families. Humanitarian assistance would surge during the first phase, with 600 trucks being allowed into Gaza each day.

The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza.

“And as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary cease-fire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposal, ‘the cessation of hostilities permanently,’” Biden said.

The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war. The 4-1/2 page Israeli proposal was transmitted to Hamas on Thursday.

But Biden acknowledged that keeping the deal on track would be difficult, saying there are a number of “details to negotiate” to move from the first phase to the second.

One roadblock to overcome during the first phase would involve the two sides agreeing on the ratio of hostages to prisoners to be released during the next phase, according to a senior Biden administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.

Biden’s remarks came as the Israeli military confirmed that its forces are now operating in central parts of Rafah in its expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city. Biden called it “a truly a decisive moment.” He added that Hamas said it wants a cease-fire and that an Israeli-phased deal is an opportunity to prove “whether they really mean it.”

But even as Biden pressed for the “war to end and for the day after to begin,” Israeli officials have made clear they remain committed to a military defeat of Hamas. The Democrat is in the midst of a tough reelection battle and has faced backlash from some on the political left who want to see him put greater pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to end the war.

Netanyahu’s office in a statement said that he authorized the Israel’s hostage negotiating team to find a way to release the remaining hostages. But the Israelis maintain “the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved, including the return of all our abductees and the elimination of Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities.”

Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said earlier this week he was “expecting another seven months of fighting” to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group.

Hamas said in a statement it viewed the proposal presented by Biden “positively” and called on the Israelis to declare explicit commitment to an agreement that includes a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a prisoner exchange and other conditions.

Israel has faced growing international criticism for its strategy of systematic destruction in Gaza, at a huge cost in civilian lives. Israeli bombardments and ground offensives in the besieged territory have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Biden also addressed some in Israel who resist ending the war. Some members of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition have opposed any deal that falls short of eradicating Hamas and they have called for an enduring occupation of Gaza.

“I ask you to take a step back and think about what will happen if this moment is lost,” Biden said. “You can’t lose this moment. Indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion of total victory will only bog down Israel in Gaza, draining the economic, military and human resources, and furthering Israel’s isolation in the world.”

Biden in his remarks made no mention of establishing Palestinian statehood, something that he has repeatedly said is key to achieving long-term peace in the region. The U.S. administration has also been working to forge normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the region’s two biggest powers. But the Saudis are opposed to any agreement that does not include concrete steps toward creation of a Palestinian state.

Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250. Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.

Ceasefire talks ground to a halt at the beginning of the month after a major push by the U.S. and other mediators to secure a deal, in hopes of averting a planned Israeli invasion of the southern city of Rafah.

The talks were stymied by a central sticking point: Hamas demands guarantees that the war will end and Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza completely in return for a release of all the hostages, a demand Israel rejects.

The outline of the new Israeli proposal is “nearly identical to Hamas’s own proposals of only a few weeks ago,” according to the Biden administration official.

Meanwhile, Congressional leaders on Friday Netanyahu to deliver an address a the U.S. Capitol. The invitation from House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, along with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, has been in the works for some time. No date for the speech was set.

Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report.

A 2-year quest for Swiss citizenship culminates in a springtime sojourn amid snow-topped Alps

Marlise Kast-Myers | Tribune News Service

It was a check-the-box trip, one intended to fill our quota to earn my husband possible Swiss citizenship. With dual nationality, I’m fortunate enough to hold the coveted red passport due to my family bloodline.

Having spent my mid-20s in the Alps, I tucked the notion in my mind, that perhaps one day, my husband could also carry one of the world’s most powerful passports.

Easier said than done. After 12 years of marriage, we started with the initial paperwork, followed by an essay (in German) as to why he wanted to become a Swiss citizen. During the process, we delivered a library’s worth of documents, ranging from financial reports to letters of recommendation. Next were in-person interviews at the nearest Swiss consulate, which happened to be in San Francisco. Thus, we flew from our home in San Diego for verbal tests — again, in German. After hours of studying, plus spending thousands in application fees, there was no turning back.

The good news was we passed almost every phase; the bad news was that we hadn’t visited Switzerland enough to prove our allegiance. The fact that the pandemic had closed travel didn’t matter. We still had to make three trips over five years. This meant we were one trip short of hopefully waving the white-cross flag.

And so, we packed our bags, adopting the mindset that this trip would double as a spring-skiing getaway during our qualifying trial. Seven days would introduce us to the French municipality of Crans-Montana in Valais, and reconnect us with our familiar friend, Zermatt in the German-speaking district of Visp.

The French municipality of Crans-Montana in Valais. (Benjamin Myers/TNS)

Swiss Air Lines landed us in Zurich, where we caught a train to our first destination at Crans-Montana. The Swiss Travel System (STS) left little need to rent a car since a Swiss Travel Pass granted us unlimited travel by train, bus and boat.

I had once lived just two hours away in the village of Gstaad, yet there wasn’t too much I knew about Crans-Montana. Now some 20 years later, I returned as the prodigal child, clinging to my roots so I could build new ones.

Although my family tree had branched from Swiss heritage, there still was something purely impartial about the culture. Locals had a deep love for nature, family and order. There was rarely conflict because, frankly, there was nothing to argue about.

Switzerland was a harmonious nation, clichéd for chocolate, cowbells and cheese. Those lures aside, there was a respect for the land and one’s neighbor. We felt it in Crans-Montana, where four municipalities joined forces to unveil a twin-town nirvana in 2017. As recent as it was, the verdant magic started back in 1893 with two besties, Louis Antille and Michel Zufferey.

Together, they climbed from the valley to the mountaintop to open the area’s first hotel, Hôtel du Parc. The region soon gained notoriety from doctors who prescribed patients the area’s air quality and, later, from the world’s best golfers during the 1983 European Masters.

While it was the sunshine and sky that lured these pioneers, it was the 1987 World Ski Championships that officially put the destination on the map. And now, we were on that map, tracking it with apps wide open for everything it had to offer . . . starting with Hostellerie du Pas de l’Ours.

This Relais & Châteaux property had me at sheepskin rugs. I’m a sucker for refined coziness, and this boutique hotel nailed it with in-room fireplaces, heated floors, private Jacuzzis, stone walls and timber-beamed ceilings. Sinking my jet-lagged feet into plush slippers, I exhaled and asked my husband the inevitable question.

“I wonder what property costs here?”

Hostellerie du Pas de l’Ours, a Relais & Chateaux in the heart of Crans-Montana. (Benjamin Myers/TNS)

We often do that — escape to a land void of troubles, tasks and to-dos, and wonder if it’s “the place.” Without answering, my husband pulled back the curtains to unveil the moon-lit peaks.

He nodded. “I think our dogs would love it here.”

What was not to love?

Within walking distance of our chalet, the ski resort boasted 87 miles of trails, a 10,000-foot summit and $50 lift tickets. From the top, a chain of peaks pierced through a duvet of clouds, revealing the Valais Alps from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc.

To get a lay of the land, we hired a ski guide who took us on wide, carving pistes, down untouched bowls, and along 7-mile runs that made our thighs burn. In rudimentary French, I asked him why there were no people on the mountain. He explained that lift lines and swarmed slopes were basically nonexistent, especially come spring when locals traded skis for hiking boots and snowboards for bikes.

With nearly the whole mountain to ourselves, we pushed pause for lunch at La Cabane des Violettes. This stone mountain hut takes gourmet cuisine to the next level, literally. At 7,000 feet, the restaurant serves traditional temptations like croûte au fromage (bubbling cheese toast) and rösti (grated potato cake) with sausage and white asparagus.

Between breakfast croissants and a hearty lunch, you’d think we’d have had our fill of food for the day, but lo and behold, we were in wine country. For an introduction to the blends of Valais, we went straight to the source, Cave le Tambourin Winery.

Run by second-generation wine makers, Ishmaël and Madeleine Bonvin, the winery popped the cork in 1987. Today it’s producing over 30,000 bottles of 20 award-winning wines. From the cellar, Madeleine dusted off six bottles, pairing them with platters of local cheeses, cured meats, and artisan chocolate to boot.

She credited the Rhône Valley’s Mediterranean climate for part of their success, in this sun-drenched region of 300 wineries producing robust reds, aromatic whites, and fruity rosés.

Believe it or not, we had fondue that night, but the fact we had to work for it justified the glutenous consumption. At full moon, hiking from the neighboring village of Aminona to Colombire Hamlet is a must. It was our guide, Marlène Galletti, who greeted us with snowshoes, hiking poles, headlamps and a Blue Healer ready to rumble.

A former thriving ski town, Aminona seemed frozen in time, a ghostly relic of its bustling past dating to 1968. Development plans have wavered, and it currently serves as a gateway for hiking, cross country skiing and mountain biking.

Plenty of powder for the taking near the Matterhorn. (Benjamin Myers/TNS)

From the muddy trailhead, we learned of Marlène’s background as a cheese maker and herbologist. She had traveled the world, sharing homesteading secrets with communities seeking to live off the land. Naturally, I asked her about everything from homemade sunscreen to longevity tinctures, that is, until she pointed toward the horizon.

That single moment silenced us all. A full moon overshadowed the mountains, so pink you’d swear they were blushing. We continued to climb, the quiet only broken by the sound of the snow crunching beneath our crampons.

And then, there it was, Colombire le Hameau — a “Hamlet” of clustered mayens. These traditional stone-and-wooden chalets function as summer homes for farmers who reside upstairs and keep livestock below.

With keys to the kingdom, Marlène opened the door to a mayen and put us to work. Together, the three of us cooked cheese fondue with boiled potatoes, pearl onions and cornichons. After a meal like that, we wished we had selected the “return sledding” option. Instead, we hiked under the moonlight, stopping only once to admire a yellow coltsfoot flower pushing through the snow in determination.

Puncturing the surrounding crust with her pole, Marlène scraped away a layer of snow as if giving the flower space to breath. There was something remarkable about that moment, a hint of spring beckoning the sprouting seeds to burst forth in a mighty super bloom.

As much as I’d like to talk about the shopping, it was only while walking along Rue du Prado that I noticed boutiques selling luxury brands like Hermès, Montblanc, and Chopard. There are nearly 200 shops rounding out the local attractions of 200+ miles of hiking/biking trails, seven lakes, four golf courses, three museums, 130 restaurants, 12 historical villages, and four waterfalls. But who’s counting numbers — or calories — when you can eat at mountain huts and Michelin-starred restaurants?

Alas, we indulged again, this time at Le Bistrot des Ours in the “cellar” of our hotel. With a mountain-inspired menu courtesy of Franck Reynaud, the Michelin-starred chef uses only Swiss ingredients in his French-Mediterranean cuisine.

If time allowed, we would have dined there again — with a smattering of paragliding, dog sledding, chocolate tasting, yak hiking and maybe even heliskiing. Needless to say, we weren’t ready to leave Crans-Montana, but Zermatt (and budget) had us locked in for Part 2 of the trip.

From our hotel, we caught a morning bus to Sion, followed by a train to Visp. Peppering a patchwork of fields and vineyards were darling chalets, as perfect as if God had sprinkled cuckoo clocks from heaven.

Going from French to German required some brain activation. Suddenly with that first greeting of “Grüezi,” I felt like I was home. It was my fourth trip to Zermatt, but still, the fact that village travel was by foot, bike or electric taxi was remarkable. Until the 1980s, the vehicle-free village of Zermatt relied on horse-drawn carriages. Despite these changes, the sound of clopping on cobblestone could still be heard echoing through the narrow streets of “Hinterdorf.”

An indoor-outdoor pool round out the amenities at Hostellerie du Pas de l’Ours. (Benjamin Myers/TNS)

Dating to the 16th century, this historic zone has barns and stables constructed from larch trees in the traditional style, balancing on stilts with slate roofs, rickety stepladders, and timber-cornered notching. At its center is a memorial fountain paying tribute to Ulrich Inderbinen who climbed the Matterhorn 370 times.

We too would be approaching that mountain, or rather, its base via the comfort of a chairlift.

Getting there was easy, with direct access to the slopes from Hotel CERVO. What Pas de l’Ours was to elegance, CERVO was to design.

Remodeled in 2020, the stylish property has just 54 rooms housed within seven chalets. With tweed, wool, and leather textiles, our room teased hipster-huntsman-meets-polished-mountaineer.

Private ski lockers, an “honesty bar,” live DJ and a climbing wall checked all the boxes.

Beauty was in the details, with medicine bottles filled with dried flowers below deer mounts reminding us where we were. Oh, and the ice bath helped solidify that fact — a chilly awakening after the sauna, steam bath and relaxation yurt. This mountain ashram was the main draw for my husband, while its proximity to the slopes had me on speed dial.

From our hotel, an elevator took us through the mountain to the starting point of Europe’s highest ski resort. Rails, escalators, gondolas and chairlifts revealed a mind-blowing feat of engineering and infrastructure that covered 324 miles across two countries. As we skied our way toward Italy, I asked my husband if we needed our passports.

Century-old Chez Vrony came from humble beginnings as a family farmhouse. (Benjamin Myers/TNS)

With that question, it became obvious I had fallen madly in love with Switzerland. Our romance blossomed that afternoon as we zipped through Alpine villages toward Chez Vrony — a restaurant we now consider among our “Top Five.”

With a front row seat to the Matterhorn, Chez Vrony came from humble beginnings as a family farmhouse. Over the past century, traditional recipes have been passed down for generations.

Each dish is prepared with organic products including the dried meats, house sausage, and Alpine cheese. Withstanding the test of time, the family eventually turned their farmhouse into one of the area’s best restaurants, one so beautiful I almost cried.

For me, these were life-giving moments, where I would smile at no one in particular, but rather at the fact Switzerland had my heart. Actually, it had the heart of many with its 110 hotels, 365 days of snow, 100 restaurants, 50 bars, and unlimited winter and summer activities. It had me with 300+ days of sunshine, a constant wink from the Matterhorn and ski-in-ski-out everything.

Unclicking our bindings, we sauna-fied our bodies and ate local with back-to-back dinners at CERVO. With five dining options, our hotel hooked us with the Middle Eastern menu at Bazaar, and later with homemade pasta at Madre Nostre.

Walking back to our room, I turned toward my husband and asked if he noticed we had spoken four languages with the staff in two hours. He hadn’t, because that’s just the way things are in Switzerland — in a country that leaves me longing to be more. Where pyramid-shaped mountains are so magnificent, I feel I can reach out and touch them.

Where loving my neighbor holds true meaning, because I know they would toil with me when the soil is dry; where I can take pride in my name because it has Swiss significance; where an army of citizens could rise up, but instead choose peace; where eating is an experience and nature is a habit; where the air literally has the power to heal.

This was my country — a place where I can bloom, regardless of the cold and bareness. Where clouds live in the valley and sunshine rises on the mountaintop. Where traditions are held close and family is held closer.

Looking back on my husband’s two-year citizenship process, one might ask if the journey was really worth the destination? Considering I’m now officially married to a Swiss man, I’d say so.

_______

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Travel junk fees are a virus with no easy fix

By Sam Kemmis | NerdWallet

Getting upset at junk fees is like getting upset at the flu.

Sure, I’m annoyed both when I get sick and when I have to pay $20 for my seat of choice, but it’s pointless to get mad at the viruses or airlines responsible. They’re just doing their jobs: One maximizing self-replication, and the other, profit.

Since budget airlines rose to prominence over a decade ago, airlines have been exploiting a quirk in human purchasing psychology: We’re attracted to low initial prices and tend to overlook high total costs when fees are “dripped” out slowly.

Indeed, it’s been shown that consumers systematically make suboptimal decisions when prices are dripped throughout the checkout process rather than disclosed up front, according to a 2020 study in Harvard Business School’s journal Marketing Science.

Just as a virus will exploit a weakness in the human immune system to reproduce itself, airlines have quickly realized that offering the lowest base fare possible and the highest fees is a great way to increase profit.

A 2023 report from IdeaWorksCompany, an airline industry reporting firm, and CarTrawler, a travel software provider, notes that ancillary revenue (i.e., fees) as a percentage of total revenue more than doubled from 6.7% in 2014 to 14.7% in 2023.

Junk fees exist because they work, and they won’t go away until they stop working.

Recent federal intervention

In April, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rolled out new consumer protections for air passengers, including rules aimed at stymying junk fees.

Over the next two years, airlines and travel booking platforms must start displaying the cost of baggage and cancellation fees “clearly, conspicuously and accurately.” They must also do away with some funny business, like making seat selection fees appear mandatory when they aren’t — one of my biggest pet peeves.

It’s a step in the right direction and hopefully will save passengers the time and money they would have spent getting flummoxed by these fees. Yet just as viruses mutate, it’s possible that airlines will find workarounds and new fees faster than federal regulators can quash them.

Indeed, airlines are already suing the DOT over its new fee transparency rules, calling them “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and otherwise contrary to law,” according to a report from Reuters. So who knows if they’ll ever go into effect.

We need better search tools

In preparation for its new regulations, the DOT held a public hearing to get feedback from affected groups, including the travel booking platforms, earlier this month. One name that jumps out in the summary of these hearings — some 38 times by my count — is “Google.”

Some excerpts from the report:

“Google expressed its view that the Department did not explain how consumers were harmed by not having fee disclosures until the ticket purchase stage of the booking process and that consumers are aware of fees.”“Some … metasearch entities such as Google stated that the existing marketplace provided transparency and that the rule would diminish consumer choice and competition.”

Basically, Google tried to convince the DOT that the current model, in which search engines like Google Flights display base prices without junk fees, is good enough.

Huh?

Sure, airlines have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, since it’s making them boatloads of money. But why does Google care? Besides the technical hassle of updating its software to reflect the DOT’s regulations, Google Flights should applaud anything that helps consumers find the lowest-cost airfare.

If Google isn’t going to do it (and it sounds like they won’t), a travel search tool needs to step up and help travelers make sense of add-on fees.

The DOT’s rules are like nutritional information on food: They’re a good first step to helping consumers make better choices. Now, we need the travel shopping equivalent of Whole Foods to actually offer the product that price-conscious travelers are craving.

It’s not complicated. We just want to know how much a flight or hotel room will actually cost. If services like Google won’t figure it out, somebody else (hopefully) will.

Herd junk fee immunity

Halting the junk fee pandemic could also require another change: fed-up consumers.

Although airlines have been racing to the bottom in terms of adding fees, they still differ significantly. According to our recent analysis at NerdWallet, the airlines with the lowest fees are:

Southwest Airlines.Alaska Airlines.Hawaiian Airlines.

And the airlines with the highest fees are:

Frontier Airlines.Spirit Airlines.United Airlines.

When searching for flights, I usually omit the big offenders altogether, either by filtering them in search results or ignoring their fares.

Do they sometimes offer the best flights at the best prices? Probably. But it’s not worth my time and effort to go through their laborious drip-filled checkout processes to figure out how much I’ll actually pay.

This is a kind of “acquired immunity” to the junk fee virus. I’ve been exposed to these fees often enough (it’s basically my job) that I can either avoid or ignore them.

However, many travelers aren’t on the front lines of junk fee exposure and search for flights only once or twice a year.

It could take years before we reach herd immunity, where the spread of the problem is blocked because enough people are immune. Yet I’m confident that, with a little help from the federal government and innovation from the private sector, we’ll turn the junk fee pandemic into a not-so-fond memory.

More From NerdWallet

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Sam Kemmis writes for NerdWallet. Email: skemmis@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @samsambutdif.

The article Travel Junk Fees Are a Virus With No Easy Fix originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Movie review: Keaton’s trip to ‘Summer Camp’ has diminishing comedic returns

Katie Walsh | Tribune News Service

The Diane Keaton Industrial Complex is a fascinating and understudied media mini-phenomenon. Once or twice a year for the past six or so years, she anchors an ensemble comedy about the perils and pleasures of getting older, surrounded by a fabulous, Oscar-worthy cast, in which she essentially plays “Diane Keaton,” or a cartoonishly frazzled, overdressed caricature of “Diane Keaton.” On the higher end, there’s “Book Club” (2018) and “Book Club: The Next Chapter” (2023), and then you have “Poms” (2019) about a group of friends who start a cheerleading squad at a retirement home, and “Mack & Rita” (2022), about a 30-year-old who magically wakes up as her 70-year-old self, and the 2024 inverse of that, “Arthur’s Whisky,” and on and on.

Her performances in these films are harried repeats of her charming turn in Nancy Meyers’ “Something’s Gotta Give” (2003), but rather than being ensconced in a fabulous Hamptons manse, she’s usually being thrust into increasingly zany circumstances (cheerleading, a ropes course, beach yoga) to diminishing returns. It’s wonderful that she’s working and seems to be having fun, but the subgenre is such a strange curio that one has to take stock at a certain point. It’s like Keaton has assembled her own Adam Sandler-style movie camp, inviting her award-winning friends for an untaxing jaunt while giving the opportunity to a young female filmmaker to direct a feature film. It’s a fun idea, but it’s a shame about the cinematic results.

The latest of these ventures is “Summer Camp,” in which Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Dennis Haysbert, Eugene Levy and Beverly D’Angelo have received their summons to report for duty, with Castille Landon as writer/director. Keaton plays workaholic widow Nora who is pressured into her 50-year camp reunion by her friend, celebrity self-help guru Ginny Moon (Bates), alongside their third pal, emergency room nurse Mary (Woodard).

You can probably guess that over the course of the weekend, these longtime camp friends are going to thrill at being back together and delight in their old crushes (Levy, wearing a stupefyingly sculpted hairpiece) before old resentments come rushing out. They’ll all do a bit of self-reflection and have an epiphany about their current stasis, and then proceed to the teary catharsis and a renewed approach to life.

There are sparks of insight that do come floating to the top, before they’re undercut by some prank or pratfall, or, regretfully, a food fight (followed almost immediately by a pillow fight). Landon’s script touches on some topics and themes that could be interesting to explore in a different genre, like Ginny Moon’s manipulations of her friends through her self-help slogans (black comedy), or Mary’s realization she’s trapped in a toxic marriage to an incompetent husband (domestic drama). In fact, only Woodard delivers an actual performance, not that it’s allowed to fully shine. Every time the film seems on the precipice of insight, Josh Peck scares a horse or Betsy Sodaro unleashes an unhinged ad-lib, and it’s back to wacky.

Landon’s aesthetic is bright, flat and colorful, marked by predictable rhythms and an overuse of popular pop songs intermingled with a standard-issue “whimsical comedy” score by Tom Howe. The most interesting design elements of these kinds of films are usually the wigs (Bates sports an orange bob here), as well as Keaton’s costumes. In “Summer Camp,” she wears her signature bowler hats and glasses, and performs archery in a three-piece suit. In one of the film’s only legitimately (and unintentionally) funny jokes, Ginny Moon gives Nora a makeover and her new look is a full skirt paired with a crisp white Oxford and a giant belt, one of Keaton’s most iconic outfits going back to “Because I Said So” (2007), something real Keaton-heads would clock right away.

While there are pops of piquancy in Landon’s script, her direction and the performances (with the exception of Woodard) fail to inspire much more than a shrug. “Summer Camp” is only mildly interesting as another entry in the Keaton-verse.

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‘SUMMER CAMP’

1.5 stars (out of 4)

MPA rating: PG-13 (for sexual material, strong language and some underage smoking)

Running time: 1:35

How to watch: In theaters May 31

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©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

UC Santa Cruz: Police arrest ‘many’ at Israel-Hamas war protest school says

By KATHY McCORMACK (Associated Press)

Police in riot gear surrounded arm-in-arm protesters Friday at UC Santa Cruz to remove an encampment and barricades where pro-Palestinian demonstrations have blocked the main entrance to the campus this week. Many people were arrested, the university said.

Campus, local and state police swarmed the protesters, and video from local news stations showed officers telling people to leave, then taking away signs and part of a barricade. There appeared to be some pushing and shoving between police and protesters. Officers carried zip ties and appeared to detain a few people.

“For weeks, encampment participants were given repeated, clear direction to remove the encampment and cease blocking access to numerous campus resources and to the campus itself,” Scott Hernandez-Jason, a spokesperson for the university, said in a statement Friday.

“They were notified that their actions were unlawful and unsafe. And this morning they were also given multiple warnings by law enforcement to leave the area and disperse to avoid arrest. Unfortunately, many refused to follow this directive and many individuals are being arrested,” Hernandez-Jason said.

It wasn’t known if anyone was injured. The university was holding classes remotely Friday.

Graduate student workers at UC Santa Cruz continued a strike that began last week over the university system’s treatment of pro-Palestinian protesters.

Protest camps sprang up across the U.S. and in Europe this spring as students demanded their universities stop doing business with Israel or companies that they say support its war in Gaza. Organizers seek to amplify calls to end Israel’s war with Hamas, which they describe as a genocide against the Palestinians.

The Associated Press has recorded at least 83 incidents since April 18 in which arrests were made at campus protests across the U.S. More than 3,025 people have been arrested at 62 colleges and universities. The figures are based on AP reporting and statements from universities and law enforcement agencies.

The confrontation in California came a day after arrests at a pro-Palestinian encampment at a Detroit campus and a student walkout during commencement at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

On Thursday, police in riot gear removed fencing and broke down tents erected last week on green space near the undergraduate library at Wayne State University in Detroit. At least 12 people were arrested.

President Kimberly Andrews Espy cited health and safety concerns and disruptions to campus operations. Staff were encouraged to work remotely this week, and in-person summer classes were suspended.

The camp, she said, “created an environment of exclusion — one in which some members of our campus community felt unwelcome and unable to fully participate in campus life.”

Another outdoor commencement ceremony was scheduled Friday at MIT in Cambridge, near Boston, a day after some graduates walked out of one, disrupting it for 10 to 15 minutes. They wore keffiyehs, the checkered scarves that represent Palestinian solidarity, over their caps and gowns, chanted “free, free Palestine,” and held signs that said, “All eyes on Rafah.”

“There is going to be no business as usual as long as MIT holds research projects with the Israeli Ministry of Defense,” said David Berkinsky, 27, who earned a doctorate degree in chemistry and walked out. “There are no graduates in Gaza. There are no universities left in Gaza left because Israeli has bombed every single one.”

Some people at the event swore at the protesters and yelled, “Good riddance to Hamas terror fans.” A pro-Palestinian encampment at MIT was cleared in early May.

Associated Press journalists Christopher L. Keller, Ed White, Michael Casey and Steve LeBlanc contributed to this report.

Horoscopes May 31, 2024: Brooke Shields, pay attention to detail

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Colin Farrell, 48; Brooke Shields, 59; Tom Berenger, 75; Clint Eastwood, 94.

Happy Birthday: Consider everything before making a move. Invest time and effort into research, and develop a thorough plan that ensures success. Knowledge is a powerful tool when dealing with bureaucratic, medical or financial matters. Personal gain is apparent if you follow the rules and pay attention to detail. An opportunity to improve your lifestyle and gain respect and support is favored. Make fitness and a positive attitude your priorities. Your numbers are 9, 16, 23, 29, 32, 38, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Double-check information, what others are doing and how to take advantage of a situation that leads to a fork in the road. Knowledge is your ticket to success, and knowing when to veer to the right or left will unfold if you listen to your intuition. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll gain stability if you make personal changes that distance you from those who confuse or trouble you. Assess situations honestly, and you’ll gain insight into opportunities that encourage a better position, reputation or outlook. It’s up to you to call the shots. Take control. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take the path of least resistance, and you’ll gain access to a seamless transition and insight into possibilities. An opportunity to explore your capabilities will boost your ego and give you the confidence to turn your desires into something tangible. Make health and fitness your priorities. 2 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Focus on what’s possible. You will surpass your expectations with discipline and ingenuity and reap the rewards you deserve. Don’t feel obligated to pay for someone else or to spend impulsively. Look for opportunities or investments that pay you instead of those that require cash. 5 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): An energetic approach to taking care of responsibilities and getting ahead will pay off. Call in favors and stick to basics to avoid unnecessary costs. Collaborating with someone who has something to contribute will show promise in more ways than one. Romance is on the rise. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Conversations will impact your decisions. Gain knowledge and set your plans in motion. Embrace the change that offers peace of mind, and reach out to people who share your interests and concerns. Additional opportunities will follow. Uniquely display your skills and ideas, and success will be yours. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You can make great strides mentally, financially and physically if you apply yourself. Direct your energy into what matters to you; the results will make you smile. Participating in events that interest you will lead to extraordinary connections. Romance is in the stars. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Explore your options and experience what life offers. Conversations will spark your imagination and provide a unique blend of new possibilities. Express your feelings and intentions, and you will find out who you can rely on to pitch in and help. Home improvement is favored. 5 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take a moment to rethink your options. A domestic issue will surface due to emotional confusion or misunderstanding. Go over every detail before implementing a change that can interfere with your plans or domestic or professional responsibilities. Honesty and integrity will deter setbacks. 2 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look for alternative ways to fill your time or to approach something that interests you. Sign up for a seminar, conference or event that offers mental stimulation and the chance to connect with like-minded people. Take precautions regarding money matters to ensure you stabilize your financial situation. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take pride in how you look and what you do, and you’ll get feedback that will encourage you to invest more time and money into your dreams, hopes and wishes. A domestic change that helps you accommodate what you want to achieve will help build momentum. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A steady pace, a disciplined mind and a plan that offers positive change will be yours if you are honest regarding your expectations and align yourself with people who can help you reach your goal. It’s OK to do things differently if you are thorough and practical. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are astute, compassionate and optimistic. You are resourceful and curious.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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Nor Cal Division II softball semifinals: Salinas blanked by Capital Christian

SALINAS — Dealing with distractions is a part of life. Graduation, though, is arguably the most important thing a teenager does, a moment that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Minutes before the start of Thursday’s softball game, Salinas High was missing four seniors — that graduated earlier in the day — who were stuck in traffic trying to get to the Salinas Sports Complex.

“I was texting them, but I didn’t want to rush them,” Salinas coach Ron Guzman said. “Graduation is a special day for families. I had two different lineups made out. When the umpires asked for the lineup. I had to give them one.”

While their absence was less than an inning, it altered the lineup. The Cowboys never got into a rhythm at the plate against Ayla Tuua, falling 3-0 to Capital Christian of Sacramento in the Northern California Division II semifinals.

“We noticed they were gone when we were warming up,” Salinas pitcher Abi Jones said. “But honestly, I wouldn’t say it effected our play.”

Ranked No. 18 in California at 25-3, Capital Christian’s No. 8 seed in the tournament was extremely misleading, having run off 18 straight wins prior to falling in the Sac Joaquin Section title game last week to Oakdale.

“She’s really good,” said Jones, the Gabilan Division Pitcher of the Year. “Easily one of the best pitchers I’ve seen. Her speed kept us off balanced. She was fast and wild, which might have made her more effective.”

It may have not mattered what lineup Guzman put there against the 5-foot-10 Tuua, who threw gas in the circle, finishing with 11 strikeouts.

Tuua came into the game with a 14-1 record and a 0.99 earned run average, having struck out 193 hitters in 99 innings of work. The sophomore allowed just three hits in sending Capital Christian to the finals.

The Cougars, who beat Hollister 7-2 in a non-league prior to the postseason, opened the tournament with a 11-1 win over top seed Pleasant Valley.

“We had a storybook season,” Guzman said. “These girls have etched themselves into history. We’ve established ourselves as a softball school again. Now we understand the expectations.”

After falling short the previous two years in the Central Coast Section finals, the Cowboys brought home the programs first CCS Division I title in 27 years, adding another milestone last Tuesday with their first Northern California Division II win.

“I think it’s really cool we made history,” Jones said. “It’s been a fun season. We played as a team. We trusted each other on defense and communicated. You have to play each game like it’s your last. We didn’t go down without a fight.”

Staked to a 1-0 lead before stepping into the circle only fueled Tuua — who is also volleyball standout for Capital Christian — as just two runners for Salinas got into scoring position.

Support came from Tuua’s sister Alannah, who doubled and homered for the Capitals, who will visit No. 3 seed Willow Glen — a semifinalist in the CCS Open Division playoffs — in the Northern California finals.

“It will be the same approach as Year 1,” Guzman said. “We have to schedule stronger teams in the preseason. I think we’ve set a standard to where it won’t be a problem getting teams to want to put us on their schedule next season.”

Salinas’ only threat off of Tuua came in the fifth inning when singles from Lanae Flores and Lily Munoz put runners at the corners, before Ava Thompson flew out to deep center — quite possibly the hardest hit ball of the game.

“I got out of my dugout seat,” said Jones, who finished with seven strikeouts, giving her 300 for the season. “I thought it was going out.”

Monterey resident research points toward displacement history on Dutra Street

Many are still researching and identifying the history of Native Americans who were likely here long before any settlers touched the Central Coast.

Karen Brown is a retired librarian from Monterey, but she continues to research and advocate for disenfranchised communities through her work. She recently presented a self-made report on the history of Dutra Street in Monterey and is trying to get the report addressed through the city council agenda.

“My focus is on the 600-block of Dutra street, which was destroyed in the ’50s to build the fire and police station and put in parking,” Brown said. “When I heard that name, I thought, there’s a connection and that area is involved with tremendous cultural loss.”

Brown took the podium during the Monterey City Council meeting May 7, reading from a 15-page report she created, detailing the history of Native American tribes living on Dutra Street.

“I’ve been able to document official ownership of property in the 600-block of Dutra Street next to Hartnell Creek by Indigenous people for over 100 years, beginning in the 1840’s (back when it was still legal to enslave Indians), through 1956 and ‘57 when the city of Monterey urban renewal efforts took the property,” Brown wrote in her report.

Following her presentation, Vice Mayor Kim Barber recommended that the item be placed on a future agenda.

Brown’s report focuses on the displacement of Native families during the 1950s through acts made by the Monterey City Council. A majority of her sources are from the Monterey Public Library’s California History Room, and she also uses images and information provided by the Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation. According to Brown’s research, Monterey was in the midst of the Civic Center Annex project in 1956, where money was allocated to buy out the owners of several homes in the area.

“The properties were taken and minimal payments were (given). Payments to Native people ranged from approximately $3,500-$5,600, while other neighbors received about $11,000 to $30,000. At the beginning of the process people had four months to accept the payment and leave the property. Then, the property was condemned with notice that the families had 30 days to vacate,” Brown said in the report.

Standing on the corner of Madison Street and Dutra Street, there is no 600-block. To the left is the Monterey Police Department parking lot, which city staff confirmed was built in the 1950s, and on the small Dutra Street are a couple of small buildings and another parking lot for city staff.

Monterey City Manager Hans Uslar said the city owns all of the buildings on the 500-block of Dutra Street and does not use them, save for one building that a couple of city employees use for office work. The city is in the process of trying to build affordable housing in this space, which could start as early as next year.

Uslar said Rudy Rosales, the former chairman of Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation, mentioned to him years ago that there used to be a neighborhood where the police station parking lot currently resides. He plans to meet with Rosales again to further understand the history in the area.

“Karen Brown deserves a lot of credit for her research,” Uslar said. “I knew some about the people that lived there, but I did not know the extent or how that area was used by Indigenous people and others who lived there. It was great to learn that history and we’ll bring it to council in due time following the outcome of our research.”

Uslar said the next steps will be for the city staff to conduct their own research, which will include contacting Library Director Brian Edwards, using the resources in the California History Room and using Brown’s research as a launching point.

“Karen’s papers are a solid foundation to look further into, and we’ll take it to our own team to further enhance the existing preliminary research,” Uslar said.

Though Brown’s report focuses on the 600-block of Dutra Street, she contends that similar practices of taking land likely applies throughout the area and other streets and neighborhoods in Monterey.

Brown lists out what the city council can do to acknowledge the harm done, and offer some kind of remedy to the lost history including:

Agendize the topic for discussion and action by the councilA public apologyA statement of support for federal recognitionReturn a piece of landRenew the rights to the spaceName or rename buildingsA plaqueA series of signs like those along Cannery RowA permanent educational displayRecognition as a historic siteFinancial compensation