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IN CONVERSATION WITH SHAZA MOHARAM, EGYPTIAN MULTI-HYPHENATE ACTOR-DIRECTOR

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

As a two-time Fulbright award recipient in acting and filmmaking, Shaza Moharam is a polymath when it comes to the world of the moving image. From her acclaimed role in the Egyptian/German film “Fakh” (The Trap), that was so well-received at its Cannes premiere, to her intimate award-winning debut documentary “Ahlam”, Moharam seems committed to excellence in all her work. No wonder she was recognized as Berlinale Talent, one of the world’s top 200 talents handpicked by the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival.The young thespian opens up about her move to Hollywood, past career and future ambitions. In her eclectic Los Angeles home, Moharam appears poised and graceful, a big contrast to some of the characters she masterfully embodied on the big screen. In “Fakh”, she portrayed Aya, a disheveled working class young woman attempting to escape an abusive and unstable partner and in “The Giraffe”, a subdued girl perturbed by an inexplicable pregnancy she...

Poker in L.A.―the source of getting something from nothing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

Poker is one of the oldest games in the world. Although it all started as a simple game of cards, it has now reached remarkable popularity. Poker can be played offline, in casinos, and the frequency is pretty impressive. According to statistics, global casinos and online gambling businesses reached 4,305 in 2023. At the same time, compared to last year’s dynamic, in 2023, the number of these businesses has increased by 5.1%, a considerable number of companies that provide gambling services.Poker is played all over the world, but there are no other experiences like the one in Los Angeles. The large poker rooms, the multitude of games and the variety of players will amaze you and make you feel like you are playing in Casino Royale next to James Bond.Origins of L.A. PokerPoker started being a thing around the 19th century. Shortly after, Californians were the most devoted players, but that had to stop after a while when poker was prohibited by law by the new legislature. Although in ma...

Five Helpful Tips To Know Before Buying An Electric Vehicle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

Electric vehicles are all the rage, with sales going up despite a market downturn. However, there are a few things you should know before switching from a fuel car to an electric vehicle. We spoke with Dwi Sutandar, an expert in this field, to gain a better understanding of EVs. Electric vehicles (EVs) are an environmentally friendly alternative to fuel cars and offer a great way for us to do our individual part in combating climate change. However, buying an electric vehicle is buying into a whole new lifestyle, one that may require you to make some adjustments.Before jumping headfirst into buying an EV, there are some things you should know to help you make a more informed purchase. Expert and entrepreneur in this field, Dwi Sutandar shares five tips here:1. Choose The Right EV For YouElectric vehicles is a broad term used to describe three different types of cars. There are Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), which are powered solely by an electric battery. Then there are Plug-in H...

Jeff Cefalia: A Master Builder Blending Passion and Precision in Real Estate Development

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

Jeff Cefalia, a native of Newport Beach, California, is a living testament to the power of determination, grit, and passion. From his early years as a national rowing champion to his current success as the founder and leader of Cefalia Development, Jeff has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence. In this article, we will explore the remarkable journey of Jeff Cefalia, a man who has not only achieved extraordinary success in the world of real estate development but has also redefined the standards of quality and design in the industry.The Foundation of a Master BuilderJeff’s journey began in Newport Beach, where he was born and raised. As a young man, he discovered the importance of mental toughness and grit when he won a rowing national championship. These invaluable life lessons would later serve as the bedrock for his future endeavors.Jeff attended the University of San Diego, where he pursued a degree in Mechanical Engineering. During this time, he...

The Wrinkle Room Celebrates the Life of L.A. Scene Queen Sean DeLear

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

As we wrote in our obit back in 2017, local punk singer/party queen Sean DeLear was a bright light in local music, art and nightlife circles, and a “ubiquitous L.A. scene-stealer.” Frequently covered in LA Weekly‘s notorious LA Dee Da column, SeanD, as we noted, did drag on his own terms, and he dazzled us all with his performance talents (in the band Glue) and just by existing, with a vivacious zest for life, in and out of dresses and heels.The Wrinkle Room, the new salon and performance lounge for L.A.’s creative elders (over 50) and their friends, presents its first live event, which should serve as a celebration of DeLear and a reunion for old school Silver Lake/Echo Park scenesters (this writer proudly identifies as part of the tribe) and those who revere them. All are welcome.Festivities include: a panel discussion about the just-released collection of stories I Could Not Believe It: The 1979 Diaries of SeanDeLear, published by Semiotext(e)/Native Agents featuring ...

Highway 4 bypass in Brentwood to see closures starting Friday as bridge is built

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

Drivers on the State Route 4 in Brentwood could face delays and detours starting Friday as Caltrans installs a bicycle and pedestrian bridge that will span over the bypass to connect two ends of the Mokelumne Trail.The overcrossing will be located south of Lone Tree Way and north of Sand Creek Road.Years in the making, the bridge will close the gap created two decades ago when Highway 4 was expanded. By connecting the two sides of the Mokelumne Trail, the bridge will offer safe access for cyclists and pedestrians for commuting and recreational travel, according to officials.But for drivers, the bridge work will mean the highway will be closed in one direction in the late night and early morning hours starting Friday and for several days afterward.A new pedestrian bridge is constructed across the Highway 4 bypass in Brentwood, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. The bridge will reconnect the Mokelumne Trail for cyclists and pedestrians. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Weather pe...

If Mavs protest, what are the chances the Warriors lose their big victory in Dallas?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

The Warriors’ victory in Dallas was still standing at the end of business Thursday, and it likely will withstand a threatened protest by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.Cuban had 48 hours to file an official protest of the Warriors’ 127-125 victory Wednesday night. That gives him until the end of business Friday, or perhaps a few hours more, coinciding with the final buzzer of Wednesday night’s game.If a protest is filed, both teams will have five days to present evidence to support its side of the argument. Commissioner Adam Silver will make a ruling within five days of receiving the evidence. There hasn’t been a successful protest since 2008, according to ESPN and the Associated Press.At issue is a play late in the third quarter that gave the Warriors an uncontested basket in a game that ended with a two-point margin. Coming out of a timeout, the Warriors inbounded the ball under the Dallas basket while the Dallas players, all five of them, were at the opposite ...

S. Carolina’s top accountant to quit over $3.5B error

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

By James Pollard | Associated Press/Report for AmericaCOLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s embattled top accountant will step down next month after a $3.5 billion error in the year-end financial report he oversaw, according to a resignation letter written Thursday that was obtained by The Associated Press.Republican Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom’s decision to leave the post he has held for 20 years came after intense scrutiny of his performance following the blunder and amid rising calls for him to either quit or be removed.The Senate panel investigating the financial misstatement issued a damning report last week accusing Eckstrom of “willful neglect of duty.” As recently as last week, however, Eckstrom had said he would not resign.“I have never taken service to the state I love or the jobs to which I have been elected lightly, endeavoring to work with my colleagues … to be a strong defender of the taxpayer and a good steward of their hard-ea...

SF Giants’ Larry Baer: Total free agent spending easing fans concerns after failure to sign Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer said Thursday that Giants fans are starting to come around on the 2023 team following the initial disappointment of the team’s failed pursuit of big-name free agents like Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa.Baer, speaking to a group of team employees and media members at the Giants’ open house at Oracle Park on Thursday morning, pointed to the club’s offseason free agent spending of $200 million as a sign that the team should be much improved this year.“We’re one of two teams to sign five or more players at $25 million or more,” he said. “A lot went into this team.”Michael Conforto (two years, $36 million), Sean Manaea (two years, $25 million), Ross Stripling (two years, $25 million), Taylor Rogers (three years, $33 million) and Mitch Haniger (three years, $43.5 million) made up the core group of additions.Overall, the Giants payroll on Opening Day should go from about $155 million last year to $183 million this year.Baer said he t...

JV remembered by radio co-hosts as Bay Area icon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- WiLD 94.9 radio hosts of "The JV Show" read news on Thursday that they hoped would never come. Hosts Selena and Graham were hosting the show live when they learned that a body found in the San Francisco Bay next to Pier 39 was confirmed to be Jeffrey Vandergrift.Selena said, "Yesterday a body was found at Pier 39. I was hoping and praying that it was not JV. Our last show with him was February 23. Moving forward without him, I can’t even wrap my mind. It’s always going to be 'The JV Show,' especially as long as I’m here at wild."As the voice of WiLD 49.9's popular morning shows, Vandergrift was a Bay Area icon. His love for radio, deep knowledge of music, and unmatched comedy wit resonated with longtime listeners for decades. Jeffrey “JV” Vandergrift formerly appeared on KRON4’s morning newscast as a regular guest. (KRON4 file image)Radio hosts Graham and Selena have kept “The JV Show” on the air despite struggling with sadness and grief ever since ...