Changes include nine new items that will bring the chain into a “new era,” according to a news release.

Among them are four new sandwiches: Toasted Italiano with Black Forest ham; Chicken Bacon Rancher; Ciabatta Cheesesteak; and Tomato Basil BLT.

RELATED: How Panera Bread ducked California’s new $20 minimum wage law

Salad-wise, the chain is adding New Mediterranean Chicken Greens with Grains; Southwest Chicken Ranch; Balsamic Chicken Greens with Grains; and Ranch Cobb Salad.

There is also a Bacon Mac & Cheese.

Twelve existing items will receive “menu enhancements,” including the Bravo Club Sandwich, Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt and the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad.

The new menu will add items priced at less than $10 at participating restaurants, the news release said, including the Tomato Basil BLT, a Ranch Cobb Salad and the Mediterranean Greens with Grains. It also states that there will be “more chicken and steak on many salads and sandwiches.”

Panera Bread is exempt from a law hiking wages for fast food workers from $16 to $20 an hour in California, a fact that has been widely reported this week. The law contains an exemption for chains that bake bread and sell it as a stand-alone item. Critics have said Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed for the exemption and note that Newsom’s donor Greg Flynn owns a number of Panera franchises.

In addition Panera Bread settled a class action lawsuit over delivery fees for $2 million this week and in recent months has been subject to wrongful death lawsuits over the caffeine content in its lemonades.

They feature a few guilty chuckles, many from the grumpy yet affable host who interjects his awkward perspective into the proceedings constantly. Then there are feather-fisted members of the security team that tries to break up the angry subjects and their physical battles, a motley crew of bad behavior.

Sadly, the security staff has all the effectiveness of a mouse guarding the door at a nightclub, but hey, anything that gets the purveyors of this brand of trash television to chant the host’s name is a supposed win.

All of which raises a question that probably no one in their right mind would even stumble upon: How in the world does “The Jerry Springer Show” connect to the primal nature of opera?

The answer is “Jerry Springer: the Opera,” a show born in London’s West End 20 years ago and now playing at San Jose Playhouse. It is not for the faint of heart. While the television show functioned highly as a prude-free zone, the production led by the talented cast is solid, even though creators Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee’s concoction isn’t exactly high culture.

The premise is predictable, based on the infamous host whose name blares inside the play’s title. The guests have lots of range — there are serial cheaters, all types of scuzzy folks and even a man who likes to dress as a baby and act out everything, down to the boom boom in his diaper. Oh, and there are also appearances from Angel Gabriel, Jesus and Satan, because hey, why would they miss out on this nonsense?

Any great opera has a brutal death, and Springer’s offing at the hands of someone who was probably actually gunning for a Klan member in Act 1’s finale is brutal indeed. That ending is complete with tap dancing leading to the tighter Act 2, aided by yet another Steve Wilkos (Fred Isozaki) security fail. As a result, Jerry’s infamous final thoughts have transitioned to his new address in Hell.

One of the challenges of the show is finding the line between gratuitous shlock and something genuinely edgy, which is blurred too often. Irreverent humor is the hallmark of many a great production, but here, that irreverence does not have nearly enough sharp satire for it to effectively sustain over the course of the show’s two hours.

That said, many moments are delightfully funny, with terrific production values — some of the best the Playhouse has produced in recent memory. The trio of creatives who make up the bulk of the Playhouse’s productions in downtown San Jose take turns showcasing the mastery of the spectacle.

That spectacle is led with Scott Evan Guggenheim’s deft direction of his talented cast, with Ric Iverson’s turn as Springer achieving a nice balance of the television host’s befuddlement and sketchy inquiry of his oddball guests. Vocal director Stephen Guggenheim consistently receives a pleasing sound from the 11-member cast that serves up tight harmonies and solos. And Shannon Guggenheim’s choreography parallels the freneticism of the original source material, the play mostly moving at breakneck speed. In addition, Shannon Guggenheim’s stellar video designs along with Jon Gourdine’s terrific set creates an environment where television hell (literally) is about to be unleashed.

What works well is the constant tension housed under the studio roof, with the basest and most offensive humor imaginable paired with the pleasing sounds of opera. Many Playhouse regulars make appearances in the production. Nina Edwards is a stellar Mary, with a buttery smooth register making fantastic runs constantly. Beautifully-presenced B Noel Thomas understands deeply the nature of tongue-in-cheek within her multiple roles. Krista Wigle showcases both a solid voice and impeccable comic timing, and Joseph Meyers is especially funny throughout, namely as the narrative comes to a close with his donning a skin-tight Elvis costume.

“Jerry Springer: the Opera” is one wild ride that isn’t going to be for everyone. I can’t really say it was even for me, and I love irreverence. But if it wasn’t wild, it wouldn’t be Jerry Springer. Or opera. After all, people who want their mamas to spank them while dancing on poles are still just, well, people.

David John Chávez is chair of the American Theatre Critics Association and a two-time juror for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (‘22-‘23); @davidjchavez.

‘JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA’

Created by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee, presented by San Jose Playhouse

Through: March 17

Where: 3Below Theaters, 288 S. Second St., San Jose

Running time: Two hours with an intermission

Tickets: $45-$65; sanjoseplayhouse.org

WHY WE LEAP

Leap days keep our modern-day Gregorian calendar in alignment with Earth’s revolutions around the sun. It takes Earth 365.242189 days, or 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds, to circle the sun. This is called a tropical year, and it starts on the spring equinox in March.

The modern Gregorian calendar added leap day because its precursor, the Julian calendar, did not precisely calculate the Earth’s rotation around the sun.

This Julian system was instituted in the Roman Empire by Julius Caesar around 46 B.C. But this calendar was 0.0078 days (11 minutes and 14 seconds) longer than the tropical year. Between 46 B.C. and 1582, this accumulated error amounted to 12.7 days.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII reformed the calendar by specifying the leap rules:

The year must be evenly divisible by four.

If the year can also be evenly divided by 100, it is not a leap year unless …

The year is also evenly divisible by 400. Then it is a leap year.

According to these rules, the years 2000 and 2400 are leap years, while 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300 and 2500 are not.

Ten days of birthdays lost!

The Gregorian calendar came into use in Roman Catholic countries in October 1582, when Thursday, Oct. 4, was followed by Friday, Oct. 15.

America gets on time

Britain and its colonies did not introduce the Gregorian calendar until September 1752, by which time an additional one-day correction was required.

Born on leap day

A baby has about a 1 in 1,500 chance of being born on Feb. 29. Each state has different laws about how Feb. 29 birthdays are handled when it comes to getting a driver’s license. In Michigan, leap day babies have to wait until March 1 to go to the DMV, but in some places (including California) the date is Feb. 28. This law doesn’t affect too many people in the United States – it’s estimated that fewer than 200,000 leap day babies are Americans.

As a urologist, I’ve learned to read the subtle signs in urine that can speak volumes about our well-being. It’s not just about frequency or urgency; it’s also about understanding the color, clarity and odor of urine to unlock health insights.

The many colors of urine

Urine varies in color from pale yellow to deep amber, primarily due to urochrome, a byproduct of the normal breakdown of red blood cells. As these cells age, they are broken down, and urochrome is made, which is then filtered by the kidneys and gives urine its color. The intensity of this color is a direct reflection of your hydration levels. The more hydrated you are, the lighter your urine.

What color is healthy urine?

Ideally, urine should be clear enough to read a book or text through (but there is no need to test my example). Yet it’s essential to find a balance.

Drinking too much water can lead to overhydration, which dilutes vital electrolytes and can cause water intoxication, a rare but serious condition that lowers blood sodium levels to dangerous lows. This risk is particularly relevant for athletes and individuals engaged in extended physical activity.

On the other hand, insufficient water intake risks underhydration, which can result in dehydration, fatigue, and weak cognitive and physical performance.

How much water should you drink?

When it comes to hydration, there’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation, but as a urologist, I can provide some guidelines to help you find what might work best for you. The US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine suggest about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men and 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) for women, which includes all beverages and food. However, individual needs can vary greatly based on factors such as body weight, activity level and health status.

For a more personalized approach, I recommend starting with 30 milliliters (or 1 ounce) of water per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight per day. This accounts for individual body mass differences and can be adjusted based on your daily activities. If you’re more physically active, or if you live in a hot climate, you might need to increase your water intake by 500 to 1,000 milliliters  (about 17 to 34 ounces) per day.

It’s also important to adjust these recommendations for specific health conditions. For instance, patients with kidney stones might need more water to help manage their condition, while those with heart or kidney problems may need to limit their fluid intake.

Gender, age and health status also play critical roles in determining the right amount of water for you. Men typically require more fluids than women due to larger average body size, and older adults may need to pay more attention to hydration due to a decreased sense of thirst.

Regardless of these guidelines, the best indicators of adequate hydration are rarely feeling thirsty and having light yellow urine. Listen to your body and adjust water intake based on thirst, the color of your urine, and how you feel, ensuring you stay well-hydrated for optimal health.

What your urine color is telling you

Red or pink: Sometimes, eating foods such as beets or berries can turn your urine red or pink. However, if you notice that your urine remains red or pink over time, it could mean there is blood in it. This change is something you shouldn’t ignore, and it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor about the change as it may be a red flag for cancers of the bladder and kidneys or benign conditions such as an enlarged prostate.

Dark brown or tea-colored: Urine that looks dark brown or like tea could be a sign that you’re not drinking enough water. If you’ve been drinking plenty of fluids and your urine is still dark, it might be a sign of liver problems or other health issues.

Blue or green: Seeing blue or green in your toilet bowl might be surprising, but it could be due to certain medications or dyes in foods.

Vibrant yellow: B vitamins can infuse your urine with a vibrant yellow shade. This effect, while harmless, is a good reminder of how diet and supplements can influence bodily functions.

What does your urine clarity mean?

Cloudy urine can be a sign of an infection or a problem with your kidneys.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that the presence of semen in urine can also change the clarity of urine, making it appear cloudy.

A cloudy appearance is often benign and resolves on its own and could be natural or a side effect of medications or surgeries for an enlarged prostate.

What does your urine odor say?

Consuming certain foods, particularly those that are spicy or contain strong ingredients, can also affect the odor of your urine.

Foods such as asparagus, coffee and some fish can produce a distinctive smell due to the specific compounds they contain, which are excreted in the urine.

A urinary ‘report card’

When it comes to understanding your health, your urine can act like a daily report card. Paying attention to its color, clarity and odor offers valuable clues that might indicate underlying health issues.

If you notice changes in your urine that don’t go back to normal, it’s better to be safe and talk to a health care provider.

Remember, catching potential health issues early can make all the difference. So, before you flush next time, take a quick look — it could be more informative than you think.

The-CNN-Wire
& © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

The restaurant walls are decorated with facades that evoke charming residential streets somewhere in Latin America, complete with pink and yellow houses with sills popped out to display planter boxes overflowing with flowers. The new location was first announced last June.

The new menu offers five types of tacos ($4.95 each) with fillings including fish, carnitas, carne asada, pollo al pastor and tofu, each served with cabbage slaw, crema and a salsa. There are sandwiches featuring pork, steak or Peruvian roast beef ($14.50 to $14.95). The Baja fish taco is crispy and flavorful — it was named No. 4 on USA Today’s 10 Best Fish Tacos in California list in 2018 — while the tofu taco is surprisingly filling and savory.

For those looking for even more filling fare, the restaurant offers plates such as chicharron de pollo ($15.65) made with crispy chicken, salsa criolla, rice, beans, yellow sauce, salad and sweet potatoes. Meanwhile, sides include  plantains, beans and ric, and yucca fries ($5.50 to $6.50).

Cholita Linda’s three other locations are in Oakland’s Temescal Plaza, on Alameda’s Park Street and in San Francisco’s Ferry Building.

Details: Open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 24 Broadway Lane at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek; cholitalinda.com.

And while I’m convinced GAI is the wave of the future, I have mixed feelings about the fact that Google, Microsoft and other companies are embedding it into programs and web apps like Gmail, Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel and other applications. I don’t mind using GAI for research, to get ideas for writing projects, to create outlines, to help edit my work or even to suggest a sentence or two, but I’m not enthusiastic about it popping up the moment you open a new document where it invites you to use the GAI service to help compose emails, essays and other writing projects. Google Gemini’s “Help me write” feature, for example, asks you to pick a topic and then generates the entire project, be it an email or even a newspaper article.

Originality

I worry most about its impact on originality. While not everyone is an accomplished writer, I do believe that most people have original things to say whether it’s about their own lives or areas of expertise. When you’re inputting the words on your own, you have to come up with not only original thoughts but a unique way of phrasing them. With GAI, the algorithm does that for you in ways that may be palatable, but not original or reflective of your unique feelings, personality or knowledge.

Having said that, I must admit that sometimes it does come up with phrases that are sometimes as good or better than what I could write myself. For this article, I asked Google Doc’s Help to write about what is wrong with features like “help me write,” and it admitted that it can be “formulaic and clichéd because generative AI is trained on large datasets of existing text, and it learns to generate text that is similar to what it has seen before,” even acknowledging that it, as well as other GAI products, “often produces content that is bland and uninspired.”  That’s not a bad way of phrasing the issue, and I do have to give the algorithm some credit for being self-critical.

Inaccuracies and bias

There is, of course, the risk of what it comes up with being inaccurate or biased. Features like Google Gemini have gotten better since I started using them only a few months ago and will continue to improve, but they still make mistakes and still reflect the biases of the humans who created the technology.

Google this week paused the human image generation feature in Gemini after being criticized for what the company admitted were “inaccuracies in some historical image generation depiction,” where it tried so hard to depict diversity that it wound up creating images of Black Nazi-era German soldiers. A query for “generate a picture of a US senator from the 1800s,” came up with pictures of people who were Black, Native American and female, which would have been great had it been true. On X, the company wrote, “We’re working to improve these kinds of depictions immediately. Gemini’s AI image generation does generate a wide range of people. And that’s generally a good thing because people around the world use it. But it’s missing the mark here.”

I’m sure Google can and will fix that, but I still worry about GAI’s impact on creativity. So far, I feel that it’s helped expand my creativity by giving me ideas that I express in my own words, but it’s also very easy to simply copy and paste words from these services as if they are your own. I admit to having done that a couple of paragraphs earlier in this column, but, in my defense, I put those words in quotation marks and cited the source.

One of my beefs with most GAI systems is that they often don’t cite the source of the information they create. Aside from the possibility of plagiarism, there is often no easy way to verify the accuracy of what they come up with. If you use their words in what you’re writing, you will be the one guilty of misleading your readers. That’s not to say that sources can’t be wrong, but as bad as it might be to quote an inaccurate source, it’s even worse to say something inaccurate indirectly as if the misinformation originated with you.

And, finally, I think that I’ll miss that sensation I had many years ago staring at a blank piece of paper or blank screen. There is something about composing from scratch — having to come up with an idea and struggle with the best way to say it — that makes our creations more human and less formulaic. Sure, Gmail can write a well-worded email on just about every subject, including breaking up with a romantic partner, but as hard as it may be, there are some things best said in your own words.

Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at larry@larrymagid.com.

SAN FRANCISCO — Crowds lined up in San Francisco on Wednesday to see — and smell — the blooming of an endangered tropical flower that releases a pungent odor when it opens once every several years.

An Amorphophallus titanum, also known as a corpse flower, began blooming Tuesday afternoon at the California Academy of Sciences, a research institution and museum.

The plant blooms for one to three days once every seven to 10 years. During the bloom, it releases a powerful smell described by some as rotting food or sweaty socks.

“It’s kind of imitating the smell of kind of a dead carcass to kind of get all the flies to come and interact with it, pick up pollen, and then take that pollen to another flower that it might investigate due to its smell,” said Lauren Greig, a horticulturist, California Academy of Sciences.

It was the first bloom for the corpse flower named Mirage, which was donated to the California Academy of Sciences in 2017. It’s been housed in the museum’s rainforest exhibit since 2020.

Bri Lister, a data scientist who lives in San Francisco, moved some meetings and waited in line for about an hour to catch a whiff of the plant.

“In certain directions, I definitely picked up on the sweaty socks, sweaty gym clothes, but probably luckily not full-on rotting meat, but definitely a smellier plant than average,” Lister said.

Monica Becker took her child out of school to see the flower in person after watching it on the academy’s livestream.

“When we heard it bloomed, we were like, we got it, we got to go, first thing in the morning when they open. So here we are,” Becker said.

The Amorphophallus titanum is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with only less than 1,000 individual plants left in the wild.

1 WATCH : The ‘Dune’ we deserve

“Dune: Part 2” is finally in theaters and all we can say is, wow!

2 PLAY: Magic mustard season

It’s that time of the year in Napa when mustard blooms cast those rolling hills in a beautiful golden glow — but that’s not the only reason to visit the wine country these days.

3 DINE: Check out an exciting new seafood restaurant

Newly opened Hurrica Restaurant in Redwood City welcomes visitors by land or sea with first-rate seafood and a flashy jellyfish aquarium. We checked it out recently and here are our thoughts.

4 MAKE & SCARF: Umami bombs away

These crispy, healthy and utterly addictive lettuce wraps are so easy and quick to make, you won’t believe your tastebuds.

5 SEE & HEAR: Great shows are all over

From Smuin Ballet reviving two of its greatest hits to a “Magic Flute” in Livermore and free tunes at a beloved old bandshell, there are a lot of great shows and concerts to catch this weekend.

6 WATCH: A ‘Shogun’ for a new generation

James Clavell’s epic and compelling novel has been adapted for TV again, and this version is even better than the classic 1980 one.

7 PLAY: A hot, hot, hot new game

“Helldivers 2” is taking the video game world by storm — here’s why.

Brix Factory Brewing has been in a stealth-opening phase this past week and will hold a grand opening this weekend (March 1-3) at 2431 Peralta St. in Oakland. Patrons will get to sample the strange but tasty brews of ex-Drake’s brewmaster John Gillooly, whose “Rube Goldberg mind” has elevated him into an “industry treasure and delight,” according to his frequent collaborators at Hen House Brewing. Also involved in the operation is Gillooly’s wife, Natasha, daughter Kira, Drake’s former brewery engineer Michael Boals and industry vet Eric Ortega.

Brix takes its name from the Brix measurement scale used in brewing, though the moniker also adequately reflects the rough, brick-and-concrete landscape of much of West Oakland, where unique businesses continue to pop up. The cult favorite June’s Pizza has obtained a beverage license for a spot next to the brewery, which right now only serves snacks. And Brix is a few blocks away from Ghost Town Brewing, a big-time medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival.

Lemon Theory
“A lower ABV Blonde ale featuring bright hop flavors reminiscent of an orange/lemon Creamsicle, held together with pleasantly toasty malt flavors driven by malted wheat from Admiral malts. Citric finish.”

Pop Art
“Pop Art is a hybrid ale with elements of fruited seltzer and blonde ale. The blackberry aromatics blend with the fruity ester profile generated by our house ale yeast.”

The Eye of Tasman
“Crisp pilsner hopped at all stages with resinous Superdelic hops bursting with dank Sativa, bright tropical fruits and aromatic calamansi zest.”

Details: Open 2 to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday (closed Tuesday-Wednesday) at 2431 Peralta St., Oakland; brixfactorybrewing.com.

Happy Birthday: Go above and beyond the call of duty when dealing with financial, medical or legal issues. You can accomplish plenty this year if you are thorough and personally oversee every transformation you desire. Refuse to let anyone talk you into something you don’t need or want. A disciplined attitude will help you fulfill your dreams. Your numbers are 4, 13, 22, 24, 31, 33, 46.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Let’s get physical. Embrace a new fitness routine, and make a physical change that empowers you to move forward confidently. Refuse to let what others do interfere with what’s best for you. Say no to temptation. Make self-improvement and romance your priorities. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t get worked up. If you overreact, situations will escalate, and you’ll lose control. Establish what you want and how to make it happen. Call on an expert, but do the work yourself. Don’t give up on someone or something you love. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Talks will lead to trouble. Concentrate on what needs to be done, and take steps to complete anything you’ve left undone. Measure your progress by every achievement you make without letting anxiety take over. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Let your creativity lead the way and see what transpires. Whether you learn something new, travel or have deep discussions to find solutions, you will benefit the most if you share your vision. Find something that makes you feel passionate. 5 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t fight the current; surrender and see where it leads. Learn to use what’s available, and you’ll gain ground and see new possibilities in what you discover. Set a budget that allows you to build a brighter future. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Start where you left off and finish what you started. Change requires a clean slate and no regrets. Tidy up and make way for what’s to come. Embrace what’s new and exciting, and enjoy the moment. Refuse to let negative people hold you back. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Don’t pay someone to do something you can do yourself. The best way to avoid unsavory situations is to handle responsibilities swiftly and efficiently. Establish a budget that offers peace of mind and a chance to expand your interests. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Keep the peace. Concentrate on getting things done and initiating improvements that encourage less maintenance and offer more time to do things that bring you joy. An unusual pastime will change how you relate to others and how others view you. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll accomplish more by working alone. Don’t offer a breakdown of what you want to accomplish or a chance to steal your thunder. Don’t buy into emotional manipulation to persuade you to go big or spend more. Stick to your comfort zone. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Distinguish between work and play. Refuse to let one interfere with the other. Change what’s necessary and proceed. Balance and discipline will help you maintain your status quo and offer insight into what’s important to you. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Emotional decisions will leave you second-guessing yourself. Slow down, rethink your strategy and simplify your original plans to fit your lifestyle and budget. A steady pace will get you where you want to go. Choose peace over chaos. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Consider your lifestyle and where your dollars go. Devise a plan to lower your overhead and reallocate what you save to encourage peace of mind and happiness. It’s time to live life your way, but first, you must incorporate savvy domestic changes. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are articulate, innovative and secretive. You are determined and persuasive.

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.

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