thedenverpost--2020-09-25--John Lithgow has a new book of Trump-era rhymes. See him talk “Trumpty Dumpty” with Local Theater Co

John Lithgow has a new book of Trump-era rhymes. See him talk “Trumpty Dumpty” with Local Theater Company this weekend.

If you love Kendrick Lamar or swoon to Cole Porter ( or dig both ; and why not ? )
, you are surely a connoisseur of rhyme .
John Lithgow gets it .
The multi-award-winning actor has penned his second book of satirical poems , one that arrives fairly fast on the heels of last year ’ s bestseller “ Dumpty , ” about President Trump and his administration ’ s cast of characters .
If the title doesn ’ t give it away , “ Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown : Verses for a Despotic Age ” ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also playful — bit of business .
It ’ s an often bravura exercise in twisted , doggerel verse with an unapologetic political bent .
Foils include Mitch McConnell , William Barr and Kelly Loeffler but also players who ’ ve exited stage right and may require jostling to recall .
Lithgow ’ s happy jostle .
It ’ s sure to have its partisans and , just as predictable , rile its detractors .
On the evening of Sept. 27 , the actor-author-painter-singer-poet will welcome guests into his home for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s virtual series , “ Living Room Local.
” With this COVID-19-nudged series , the Boulder theater company aims to offer the insights of a master class in craft with the zest of a cocktail party .
Lithgow plans to read a poem or two from “ Trumpty.
” But nothing in his vast career is off the table .
Which means he may visit — with prompting from virtual attendees and the moderator , yours truly — his Tony-winning performances ( two ) and the characters who lead to his Emmys ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ The Crown ” and Arthur Mitchell of “ Dexter.
” The serial killer remains so deeply , so calmly sinister , that to call up his memory still stirs dread .
His screen career — from “ The World According to Garp ” to “ Footloose ” to “ Terms of Endearment ” — too , is rife for reflection .
Last year , Lithgow co-starred on the big screen as Fox News mastermind and sexual harasser Roger Ailes in “ Bombshell , ” opposite Charlize Theron ’ s Megyn Kelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Margo Robbie ’ s fictional composite of a new hire to the Fox New empire .
The books of verse aren ’ t Lithgow ’ s first foray into writing .
Children ’ s book author and entertainer are among his many pursuits .
The “ Trumpty ” illustrations ( by the author , natch ) evoke the deftly casual nature of kids ’ book art but match the scathing wit of the verses they accompany .
When Lithgow hopped on the phone last week , he was in the midst of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the illustrations into short animated films .
“ I ’ ve ordered myself a lightbox and I ’ ve been animating away , ” he said , delight infusing his trademark , oh-so-precise cadence .
Here ’ s more of what he had to say .
( This conversation has been edited for length and clarity . )
Q : Animation is very labor-intensive , isn ’ t it ?
A : It ’ s not labor at all .
We ’ re all doing it for the fun of it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not all , of “ Trumpty Dumpty ” during COVID , yes ?
A : And I don ’ t think I could have done it had I not been sheltering in place .
I was working , doing my best to write poems while I worked , but I really didn ’ t think I was going to make it .
Because it is a big job — 32 , 33 poems — trifling poems , but they ’ re really hard to write .
The meter and the rhyme ; it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and turning , trying to find a rhyme for God-know-who — Giuliani ?
Anyone who writes doggerel lives their lives trying to think of rhymes .
Q : Why do rhymes delight us so much ?
A : You know , I ’ ve thought a lot about that .
It ’ s because they go off like little firecrackers .
You know a rhyme is coming anytime you get to the end of a stanza , but you hope the best rhyme of all comes at the end of a poem .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Omigod , yes , of course !
” It captivates you and holds your attention in a remarkable way .
Q : During a podcast about the first collection , you mentioned how the poems were also markers of a kind of history .
A : All of my poems are about news items , which , if you follow news , you know them very well .
But you don ’ t , know them in rhyme .
Not only that , you may have forgotten about the subject of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it brings back the memory so vividly .
And it sticks .
“ Omigod , yes , Harold Bronstein ( the president ’ s personal physician until 2015 ) , I ’ d forgotten all about him.
” There ’ s a rhyme about him and there ’ s a caricature of him stuck in a tub .
I bet people remember him better than they would have .
Q : You said before that actors are empathy machines .
How so ?
A : Roger Ailes is a really good example .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who loved Roger Ailes .
I asked them what they loved about him .
It ’ s essential to know that if you ’ re playing him , as the hero or the villain of the story .
A villain is so much more interesting if you get some sort of insight into his or her compulsions , that extra dimension .
A compulsive evildoer doesn ’ t want to have that compulsion .
He hates that compulsion , but he has to act on it .
And I ’ ve had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of times because I ’ ve played a lot of villains .
I ’ m a character actor , and they hire character actors to play the villains .
So it ’ s a subject I ’ ve thought about , and God knows talked about a lot .
Q : Who did you find to help with Ailes ?
A : I tracked down an old friend .
In the 1970s , he was a friend of mine and he was Roger Ailes ’ producing partner back when Ailes was trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We talked for 40 minutes and he was so upset about the conventional wisdom about Ailes .
He said , “ Nobody knows — or tells — about what fabulous company he was , what a great roaring sense of humor he had .
He was a man who was capable of provoking a forty-second fit of laughter.
” And I thought , Wow , that ’ s something completely other than what I knew about Roger Ailes .
And you take that to work and you just can ’ t wait to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writers .
Q : Have you learned things about power that you would not otherwise know playing historical figures like Winston Churchill and Ailes ?
A : I don ’ t know that I learned anything from playing these parts .
I ’ ve certainly learned a lot of information about Churchill and Ailes and these characters .
What I bring to it is my own curiosity about them .
And I think that makes them more interesting performances .
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter , In The Know , to get entertainment @ @ @ @ @ @ @

If you love Kendrick Lamar or swoon to Cole Porter (or dig both; and why not?), you are surely a connoisseur of rhyme.
John Lithgow gets it. The multi-award-winning actor has penned his second book of satirical poems, one that arrives fairly fast on the heels of last year’s bestseller “Dumpty,” about President Trump and his administration’s cast of characters.
If the title doesn’t give it away, “Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown: Verses for a Despotic Age” (Chronicle Books) is a barbed — but also playful — bit of business. It’s an often bravura exercise in twisted, doggerel verse with an unapologetic political bent. Foils include Mitch McConnell, William Barr and Kelly Loeffler but also players who’ve exited stage right and may require jostling to recall. Lithgow’s happy jostle. It’s sure to have its partisans and, just as predictable, rile its detractors.
To watch “Living Room Local with John Lithgow.” Moderated by Lisa Kennedy. Sunday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m. Single tickets $20 at localtheaterco.org.
On the evening of Sept. 27, the actor-author-painter-singer-poet will welcome guests into his home for the first installment of Local Theater Company’s virtual series, “Living Room Local.” With this COVID-19-nudged series, the Boulder theater company aims to offer the insights of a master class in craft with the zest of a cocktail party.
Lithgow plans to read a poem or two from “Trumpty.” But nothing in his vast career is off the table. Which means he may visit – with prompting from virtual attendees and the moderator, yours truly — his Tony-winning performances (two) and the characters who lead to his Emmys (six), among them Winston Churchill of “The Crown” and Arthur Mitchell of “Dexter.” The serial killer remains so deeply, so calmly sinister, that to call up his memory still stirs dread.
His screen career — from “The World According to Garp” to “Footloose” to “Terms of Endearment” — too, is rife for reflection. Last year, Lithgow co-starred on the big screen as Fox News mastermind and sexual harasser Roger Ailes in “Bombshell,” opposite Charlize Theron’s Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman’s Gretchen Carlson and Margo Robbie’s fictional composite of a new hire to the Fox New empire.
The books of verse aren’t Lithgow’s first foray into writing. Children’s book author and entertainer are among his many pursuits. The “Trumpty” illustrations (by the author, natch) evoke the deftly casual nature of kids’ book art but match the scathing wit of the verses they accompany. When Lithgow hopped on the phone last week, he was in the midst of helping a couple of filmmakers turn some of the illustrations into short animated films.
“I’ve ordered myself a lightbox and I’ve been animating away,” he said, delight infusing his trademark, oh-so-precise cadence. Here’s more of what he had to say. (This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.)
Q: Animation is very labor-intensive, isn’t it?
A: It’s not labor at all. We’re all doing it for the fun of it.
Q: You wrote much, if not all, of “Trumpty Dumpty” during COVID, yes?
A: And I don’t think I could have done it had I not been sheltering in place. I was working, doing my best to write poems while I worked, but I really didn’t think I was going to make it. Because it is a big job — 32, 33 poems — trifling poems, but they’re really hard to write. The meter and the rhyme; it would keep you up nights, tossing and turning, trying to find a rhyme for God-know-who — Giuliani? Anyone who writes doggerel lives their lives trying to think of rhymes.
Q: Why do rhymes delight us so much?
A: You know, I’ve thought a lot about that. It’s because they go off like little firecrackers. You know a rhyme is coming anytime you get to the end of a stanza, but you hope the best rhyme of all comes at the end of a poem. And it’s just a surprise. “Omigod, yes, of course!” It captivates you and holds your attention in a remarkable way.
Q: During a podcast about the first collection, you mentioned how the poems were also markers of a kind of history.
A: All of my poems are about news items, which, if you follow news, you know them very well. But you don’t, know them in rhyme. Not only that, you may have forgotten about the subject of the rhyme — and boom! — it brings back the memory so vividly. And it sticks.
“Omigod, yes, Harold Bronstein (the president’s personal physician until 2015), I’d forgotten all about him.” There’s a rhyme about him and there’s a caricature of him stuck in a tub. I bet people remember him better than they would have.
Q: You said before that actors are empathy machines. How so?
A: Roger Ailes is a really good example. I did what I could to find people who loved Roger Ailes. I asked them what they loved about him. It’s essential to know that if you’re playing him, as the hero or the villain of the story. A villain is so much more interesting if you get some sort of insight into his or her compulsions, that extra dimension.
A compulsive evildoer doesn’t want to have that compulsion. He hates that compulsion, but he has to act on it. And I’ve had to go through that process quite a lot of times because I’ve played a lot of villains. I’m a character actor, and they hire character actors to play the villains. So it’s a subject I’ve thought about, and God knows talked about a lot.
Q: Who did you find to help with Ailes?
A: I tracked down an old friend. In the 1970s, he was a friend of mine and he was Roger Ailes’ producing partner back when Ailes was trying to produce theater in New York. We talked for 40 minutes and he was so upset about the conventional wisdom about Ailes. He said, “Nobody knows — or tells — about what fabulous company he was, what a great roaring sense of humor he had. He was a man who was capable of provoking a forty-second fit of laughter.”
And I thought, Wow, that’s something completely other than what I knew about Roger Ailes. And you take that to work and you just can’t wait to share it with the director and the writers.
Q: Have you learned things about power that you would not otherwise know playing historical figures like Winston Churchill and Ailes?
A: I don’t know that I learned anything from playing these parts. I’ve certainly learned a lot of information about Churchill and Ailes and these characters. What I bring to it is my own curiosity about them. And I think that makes them more interesting performances.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-09-25--New wildfire sparks in Eagle County shutting down Colorado 131

A wildfire burning north of Wolcott has closed Colorado 131 in both directions and large air tankers are dropping fire retardant .
The Alkali Creek fire started Friday near the 4 Eagle Ranch , according to the Eagle County Sheriff ’ s Office .
Colorado 131 is closed from U.S. 6 , just north of Wolcott , north to State Bridge near the 4 Eagle Ranch , the sheriff ’ s office said .
There is no estimated time of reopening .
Multiple authorities are responding including the Greater Eagle Fire Protection District , Eagle River Fire Protection District , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheriff ’ s Office , Colorado State Patrol and the U.S. Forest Service – White River National Forest .
At about 3:40 p.m. Friday the fire was about 100 acres burning in sage , pinon and juniper .
“ Gusty winds are creating erratic fire behavior , ” the sheriff ’ s office said .
It is 0 % contained .
The Horse Mountain subdivision has been put on pre-evacuation notice , residents should be prepared to leave immediately .
Two single-engine air tankers and a helicopter are working on the fire supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hunters were evacuated from the Muddy Pass Road area .

A wildfire burning north of Wolcott has closed Colorado 131 in both directions and large air tankers are dropping fire retardant.
The Alkali Creek fire started Friday near the 4 Eagle Ranch, according to the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.
Several Large Air Tankers on scene of the #AlkaliCreekFire pic.twitter.com/1wvFFHATl7 — CSP Eagle (@CSP_Eagle) September 25, 2020
Colorado 131 is closed from U.S. 6, just north of Wolcott, north to State Bridge near the 4 Eagle Ranch, the sheriff’s office said. There is no estimated time of reopening.
Multiple authorities are responding including the Greater Eagle Fire Protection District, Eagle River Fire Protection District, Gypsum Fire Protection District, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol and the U.S. Forest Service – White River National Forest.
At about 3:40 p.m. Friday the fire was about 100 acres burning in sage, pinon and juniper.
“Gusty winds are creating erratic fire behavior,” the sheriff’s office said. It is 0% contained.
The Horse Mountain subdivision has been put on pre-evacuation notice, residents should be prepared to leave immediately.
Two single-engine air tankers and a helicopter are working on the fire supporting ground crews.
Just before 3 p.m. hunters were evacuated from the Muddy Pass Road area.


thedenverpost--2020-09-25--GOP expecting Trump to tap Amy Coney Barrett for U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON — Republicans are expecting President Donald Trump to announce Saturday that he is nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court as he aims to put a historic stamp on the high court just weeks before the election .
Conservative groups and congressional allies are laying the groundwork for a swift confirmation process for Barrett , even before Trump makes the selection official .
They , like the president , are wasting little time moving to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , organizing multimillion-dollar ad campaigns and marshalling supporters both to confirm the pick and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The likely shift in the court ’ s makeup — from Ginsburg , a liberal icon , to an outspoken conservative — would be the sharpest ideological swing since Clarence Thomas replaced Justice Thurgood Marshall nearly three decades ago .
For Trump , it will provide a much-needed political assist as he tries to fire up his base .
For conservatives , it will mark a long-sought payoff for their at-times uncomfortable embrace of Trump .
And for Democrats , it will be another moment of reckoning , with their party locked in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House and the Senate .
Senate Republicans are readying for confirmation hearings in two weeks , with a vote in the full chamber now expected before Election Day .
Democrats are essentially powerless to block the votes .
“ I ’ m confident he ’ s going to make an outstanding nomination , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News .
“ The American people are going to take a look at this nominee and conclude , as we are likely to conclude , that she well deserves to be confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re hell-bent on getting this done as fast as possible , ” said Democratic Senate whip Dick Durbin .
“ They think it helps Donald Trump get reelected.
” Outside conservative groups , who have been preparing for this moment for 40 years , are planning to spend more than $ 25 million to support Trump and his nominee .
The Judicial Crisis Network has organized a coalition that includes American First Policies , the Susan B. Anthony List , the Club for Growth and the group Catholic Vote .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learned from the histories of confirmation processes , the intensity of the fight has more to do with the previous occupant of the seat than who the nominee is , ” said JCN ’ s Carrie Severino .
“ We expect this to be a very high stakes confirmation.
” Within hours of Ginsburg ’ s death , Trump made clear his intention to nominate a woman in her stead , after previously putting two men on the court and as he struggles to mitigate an erosion in support among suburban women .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of vetting this month , as Trump released an additional 20 names he would consider for the court .
He has challenged Democrat Joe Biden to list possible nominees , too .
In discussing a five-person shortlist for Ginsburg ’ s seat , Trump has been sure to highlight some from election battleground states that he ’ s aiming to win this fall as much as their jurisprudence .
“ I ’ ve heard incredible things about her , ” he said of Florida ’ s Barbara Lagoa , a day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know her .
She ’ s Hispanic and highly respected .
Miami .
Highly respected.
” In an interview with a Detroit television station , he volunteered that hometown Justice Joan Larsen is “ very talented.
” Trump and his aides , though , appeared to have set their sights on nominating Barrett , of Indiana , who was at the White House twice this week , including for a Monday meeting with Trump .
The staunch conservative ’ s 2017 appeals court confirmation on a party-line vote included allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump allies see that as a political windfall for them should Democrats attempt to do so once again .
Catholic voters in Pennsylvania , in particular , are viewed as a pivotal demographic in the swing state that Democratic nominee Joe Biden , also Catholic , is trying to recapture .
Vice President Mike Pence defended Barrett when asked whether her affiliation with People of Praise , a charismatic Christian community , would complicate her ability to serve on the high court .
“ I must tell you the intolerance expressed during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I really think was a disservice to the process and a disappointment to millions of Americans , ” he told ABC News .
Though the court can break down along ideological lines in high-profile cases , Chief Justice John Roberts and his colleagues resist the idea they are politicians in robes and emphasize that they agree more than they disagree .
Still , Barrett ’ s appointment would make the court more conservative .
It would be transformed from a court divided 5-4 between conservatives and liberals to one in which six members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barrett has been hailed as a justice in the mold of Antonin Scalia , for whom she clerked .
Trump played up the power to make judicial nominations with conservative voters in 2016 , when Republican senators kept open the seat vacated by the death of Scalia rather than let President Barack Obama fill the opening .
Trump ’ s decision to release lists of accomplished conservative jurists for potential elevation was rewarded by increased enthusiasm among white evangelical voters , many of whom had been resistant to supporting the candidacy of the @ @ @ @ @

Zeke Miller, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick

WASHINGTON — Republicans are expecting President Donald Trump to announce Saturday that he is nominating Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court as he aims to put a historic stamp on the high court just weeks before the election.
Conservative groups and congressional allies are laying the groundwork for a swift confirmation process for Barrett, even before Trump makes the selection official. They, like the president, are wasting little time moving to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, organizing multimillion-dollar ad campaigns and marshalling supporters both to confirm the pick and to boost Trump to a second term.
The likely shift in the court’s makeup — from Ginsburg, a liberal icon, to an outspoken conservative — would be the sharpest ideological swing since Clarence Thomas replaced Justice Thurgood Marshall nearly three decades ago.
For Trump, it will provide a much-needed political assist as he tries to fire up his base. For conservatives, it will mark a long-sought payoff for their at-times uncomfortable embrace of Trump. And for Democrats, it will be another moment of reckoning, with their party locked in a bitter battle to retake the White House and the Senate.
Senate Republicans are readying for confirmation hearings in two weeks, with a vote in the full chamber now expected before Election Day. Democrats are essentially powerless to block the votes.
“I’m confident he’s going to make an outstanding nomination,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News. “The American people are going to take a look at this nominee and conclude, as we are likely to conclude, that she well deserves to be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.”
“They’re hell-bent on getting this done as fast as possible,” said Democratic Senate whip Dick Durbin. “They think it helps Donald Trump get reelected.”
Outside conservative groups, who have been preparing for this moment for 40 years, are planning to spend more than $25 million to support Trump and his nominee. The Judicial Crisis Network has organized a coalition that includes American First Policies, the Susan B. Anthony List, the Club for Growth and the group Catholic Vote.
“One of the things we’ve learned from the histories of confirmation processes, the intensity of the fight has more to do with the previous occupant of the seat than who the nominee is,” said JCN’s Carrie Severino. “We expect this to be a very high stakes confirmation.”
Within hours of Ginsburg’s death, Trump made clear his intention to nominate a woman in her stead, after previously putting two men on the court and as he struggles to mitigate an erosion in support among suburban women.
The White House has already concluded a round of vetting this month, as Trump released an additional 20 names he would consider for the court. He has challenged Democrat Joe Biden to list possible nominees, too.
In discussing a five-person shortlist for Ginsburg’s seat, Trump has been sure to highlight some from election battleground states that he’s aiming to win this fall as much as their jurisprudence.
“I’ve heard incredible things about her,” he said of Florida’s Barbara Lagoa, a day after Ginsburg’s death. “I don’t know her. She’s Hispanic and highly respected. Miami. Highly respected.”
In an interview with a Detroit television station, he volunteered that hometown Justice Joan Larsen is “very talented.”
Trump and his aides, though, appeared to have set their sights on nominating Barrett, of Indiana, who was at the White House twice this week, including for a Monday meeting with Trump.
The staunch conservative’s 2017 appeals court confirmation on a party-line vote included allegations that Democrats were attacking her Catholic faith. Trump allies see that as a political windfall for them should Democrats attempt to do so once again. Catholic voters in Pennsylvania, in particular, are viewed as a pivotal demographic in the swing state that Democratic nominee Joe Biden, also Catholic, is trying to recapture.
Vice President Mike Pence defended Barrett when asked whether her affiliation with People of Praise, a charismatic Christian community, would complicate her ability to serve on the high court.
“I must tell you the intolerance expressed during her last confirmation about her Catholic faith I really think was a disservice to the process and a disappointment to millions of Americans,” he told ABC News.
Though the court can break down along ideological lines in high-profile cases, Chief Justice John Roberts and his colleagues resist the idea they are politicians in robes and emphasize that they agree more than they disagree. Still, Barrett’s appointment would make the court more conservative. It would be transformed from a court divided 5-4 between conservatives and liberals to one in which six members are conservatives appointed by Republican presidents. Barrett has been hailed as a justice in the mold of Antonin Scalia, for whom she clerked.
Trump played up the power to make judicial nominations with conservative voters in 2016, when Republican senators kept open the seat vacated by the death of Scalia rather than let President Barack Obama fill the opening. Trump’s decision to release lists of accomplished conservative jurists for potential elevation was rewarded by increased enthusiasm among white evangelical voters, many of whom had been resistant to supporting the candidacy of the one-time New York Democrat.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--As COVID-19 surges, number of students withdrawing from CU Boulder doubles

Nearly 570 students have withdrawn from the University of Colorado Boulder since the beginning of the fall semester — double the number who left last year — amid surging COVID-19 cases , a rapidly changing learning environment and quarantine orders .
Between Aug. 24 and Thursday , 392 continuing students and 177 first-year students withdrew from CU Boulder .
During the same time period in 2019 , 172 continuing students and 113 first-year students withdrew , said Melanie Parra , a campus spokeswoman .
At the start of the semester , 6,931 students lived in on-campus housing and CU ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past two months as cases climbed , 374 students canceled their on-campus housing contracts , with 215 of those students withdrawing entirely and 159 moving out but remaining enrolled , Parra said .
University officials on Friday said they did not yet know how much of a financial toll the withdrawals will take on the campus , which already saw a $ 66 million budget hit this year compared to last , largely due to COVID-19 .
Lower-than-expected student enrollment this fall forced steeper budget reductions across the campus .
Freshman enrollment at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , dipping from 7,113 students to 6,235 , according to a September CU budget presentation .
“ While the number of withdrawals are , thankfully , modest , they ’ re still impactful , and it means the campus is going to have to take actions to address the budget gaps , ” said Todd Saliman , CU ’ s chief financial officer .
“ The campus has plans to do that , but no one wants to implement those plans because they ’ re reductions.
” The withdrawal numbers represent yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus .
Fallout from the virus has slashed state higher education budgets , drastically altered the college experience for students and university employees , and caused CU Boulder to top Colorado ’ s list of COVID-19 outbreaks with more than 1,300 confirmed or probable infections among students .
Jordan Medina , a 21-year-old CU Boulder senior , received an email before the semester began informing him three of the political science courses that he needed to graduate were no longer being offered .
Three emails provided to The Denver Post show Medina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , technology , society and the future , and current affairs in international relations were all canceled due to the “ fiscal impact of COVID-19.
” “ I went into panic mode , ” Medina said .
Parra said because of COVID-19 , departments had to redistribute their resources from low-demand classes and electives to classes more central to the curriculum .
“ While these changes had fiscal impacts in the sense that they may have required moving funds away from one type of course and into another type of course , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Parra said .
After a Zoom meeting with his adviser , Medina decided the best thing for him to do was withdraw for the fall semester and hope things were better come spring .
“ I ’ m not regretting it now that I see everything playing out , ” Medina said .
Within the past couple weeks as cases of COVID-19 soared on campus , CU Boulder officials implored students to stop partying , instituted a recommended two-week student self-quarantine , forced nearly 200 students out of their dorms to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remote learning for at least two weeks and partnered with Boulder County Public Health to mandate a ban on all gatherings of 18-to-22-year-olds in the city .
Instead of finishing up his senior year , Medina is living in Brighton with his girlfriend and her family , working as a security guard handing out face masks outside a local Walmart .
Medina still hopes to return to CU come spring and said he isn ’ t upset with the institution .
“ It ’ s just kind of a bad situation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay their bills so they need students to pay the full amount of money for regular college .
Then people who specifically went to CU as a party school probably just wanted to party so that ’ s why they ’ re there .
I guess no one was ready for COVID , even six months after it started.
” Matt Siddle , a 21-year-old CU Boulder senior , was more critical of the institution he withdrew from three weeks into the semester after he said he realized he wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t accustomed to the new technologies demanded by remote education , he said , and much of his class time was spent troubleshooting technical difficulties rather than teaching .
“ I got massively over-stressed and realized I was paying out-of-state tuition for what was basically a worse version of Khan Academy , ” Siddle said , referring to the online education organization .
Siddle , who lives in Louisville , said because he withdrew three weeks into the semester , he received 60 % of his out-of-state tuition back .
Out-of-state tuition for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 36,546 for 30 credit hours .
Siddle said he doesn ’ t anticipate the campus will control the COVID-19 outbreak by the spring semester , so he expects to start his senior year as a computer science major anew come fall 2021 .
In the meantime , Siddle said he was fortunate enough to have a financial cushion to pursue making a documentary film on e-sports .
“ I like Boulder , but I ’ m considering going elsewhere , ” Siddle said .
“ How they ’ ve handled COVID has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why didn ’ t they shut the school down earlier ?
You knew it was a bit of a farce this semester in terms of the education quality , so why did you let people pay you for a YouTube tutorial ?
”

Nearly 570 students have withdrawn from the University of Colorado Boulder since the beginning of the fall semester — double the number who left last year — amid surging COVID-19 cases, a rapidly changing learning environment and quarantine orders.
Between Aug. 24 and Thursday, 392 continuing students and 177 first-year students withdrew from CU Boulder. During the same time period in 2019, 172 continuing students and 113 first-year students withdrew, said Melanie Parra, a campus spokeswoman.
At the start of the semester, 6,931 students lived in on-campus housing and CU’s Bear Creek apartments. In the past two months as cases climbed, 374 students canceled their on-campus housing contracts, with 215 of those students withdrawing entirely and 159 moving out but remaining enrolled, Parra said.
University officials on Friday said they did not yet know how much of a financial toll the withdrawals will take on the campus, which already saw a $66 million budget hit this year compared to last, largely due to COVID-19. Lower-than-expected student enrollment this fall forced steeper budget reductions across the campus.
Freshman enrollment at CU Boulder declined 12.3% from last year, dipping from 7,113 students to 6,235, according to a September CU budget presentation.
“While the number of withdrawals are, thankfully, modest, they’re still impactful, and it means the campus is going to have to take actions to address the budget gaps,” said Todd Saliman, CU’s chief financial officer. “The campus has plans to do that, but no one wants to implement those plans because they’re reductions.”
The withdrawal numbers represent yet another cost to the university from the novel coronavirus. Fallout from the virus has slashed state higher education budgets, drastically altered the college experience for students and university employees, and caused CU Boulder to top Colorado’s list of COVID-19 outbreaks with more than 1,300 confirmed or probable infections among students.
Jordan Medina, a 21-year-old CU Boulder senior, received an email before the semester began informing him three of the political science courses that he needed to graduate were no longer being offered.
Three emails provided to The Denver Post show Medina’s courses on Western European politics, technology, society and the future, and current affairs in international relations were all canceled due to the “fiscal impact of COVID-19.”
“I went into panic mode,” Medina said.
Parra said because of COVID-19, departments had to redistribute their resources from low-demand classes and electives to classes more central to the curriculum.
“While these changes had fiscal impacts in the sense that they may have required moving funds away from one type of course and into another type of course, they were not driven by budget cuts,” Parra said.
After a Zoom meeting with his adviser, Medina decided the best thing for him to do was withdraw for the fall semester and hope things were better come spring.
“I’m not regretting it now that I see everything playing out,” Medina said.
Within the past couple weeks as cases of COVID-19 soared on campus, CU Boulder officials implored students to stop partying, instituted a recommended two-week student self-quarantine, forced nearly 200 students out of their dorms to make room for more isolation space, switched to remote learning for at least two weeks and partnered with Boulder County Public Health to mandate a ban on all gatherings of 18-to-22-year-olds in the city.
Instead of finishing up his senior year, Medina is living in Brighton with his girlfriend and her family, working as a security guard handing out face masks outside a local Walmart.
Medina still hopes to return to CU come spring and said he isn’t upset with the institution.
“It’s just kind of a bad situation,” Medina said. “CU needs to pay their bills so they need students to pay the full amount of money for regular college. Then people who specifically went to CU as a party school probably just wanted to party so that’s why they’re there. I guess no one was ready for COVID, even six months after it started.”
Matt Siddle, a 21-year-old CU Boulder senior, was more critical of the institution he withdrew from three weeks into the semester after he said he realized he wasn’t learning much. His professors weren’t accustomed to the new technologies demanded by remote education, he said, and much of his class time was spent troubleshooting technical difficulties rather than teaching.
“I got massively over-stressed and realized I was paying out-of-state tuition for what was basically a worse version of Khan Academy,” Siddle said, referring to the online education organization.
Siddle, who lives in Louisville, said because he withdrew three weeks into the semester, he received 60% of his out-of-state tuition back. Out-of-state tuition for the 2020 academic year in Boulder is $36,546 for 30 credit hours.
Siddle said he doesn’t anticipate the campus will control the COVID-19 outbreak by the spring semester, so he expects to start his senior year as a computer science major anew come fall 2021.
In the meantime, Siddle said he was fortunate enough to have a financial cushion to pursue making a documentary film on e-sports.
“I like Boulder, but I’m considering going elsewhere,” Siddle said. “How they’ve handled COVID has tarnished their reputation in my eyes. Why didn’t they shut the school down earlier? You knew it was a bit of a farce this semester in terms of the education quality, so why did you let people pay you for a YouTube tutorial?”


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Denver council considering price cap for Grubhub, other food delivery companies

The Denver City Council is considering a cap on the fees delivery companies can charge restaurants as the coronavirus continues to batter the industry .
With diminished capacity and social distancing requirements , restaurants are able to serve far fewer customers in-house than before the pandemic , and they ’ ve leaned on delivery to supplement lost revenue .
But many must rely on third-party delivery companies like Grubhub , DoorDash and Postmates , which can charge restaurants up to 40 % of the total bill , Councilwoman Kendra Black said during a committee meeting earlier this month .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 % to help struggling restaurants recover some of their lost profit margin .
“ That ’ ll provide immediate relief , ” said Mike McKibbin , district manager for Brothers BBQ , a locally owned chain with eight Denver metro locations .
“ And it would obviously allow us to do things that can only help our business grow and help retain employees.
” Cities including San Francisco , Seattle and New York City have launched similar measures , capping commission fees at between 15 % and 20 % .
Grubhub has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caps and even defying the new regulations at times .
Grubhub also opposes the caps in Denver , said spokesperson Katie Norris .
“ We believe fee caps are the wrong way to support restaurants , as they will negatively impact restaurants ’ order volume and increase costs for diners , ” she said .
The council will take its first of two votes on the price cap Monday .
The relief can ’ t come soon enough , McKibbin said , because patios will begin to close or customers will be less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weather turns cooler , making delivery orders all the more important .
He estimated about a quarter of his restaurants ’ business comes through those third-party vendors and that will increase in the winter .
At Leven Deli Co. in Capitol Hill , delivery through third-party companies took over about 10 % of the business when the pandemic first hit , said owner Anthony Lygizos .
He said those large companies aren ’ t the enemy but they do create an expensive intermediary between customers and restaurants like his .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s no care ; there ’ s no training , ” Lygizos said .
“ I get it , everyone needs a job , but you ’ re just blowing up that buffer.
” Lygizos said he has increased some of his prices when customers order through third-party vendors to compensate for the expensive fees .
A price cap would mean fewer costs to pass on to customers in the future , he said .
Chris Fuselier , owner of the Blake Street Tavern , 2301 Blake St. , said the delivery companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost revenue from an increase in volume .
Fuselier said he canceled his third-party partnerships before the pandemic hit because they were too expensive but if council approves the price cap , he ’ ll likely sign up again .
The fees hit the local , family businesses the hardest , Fuselier said .
Chain restaurants often have enough leverage to negotiate lower prices with the third-party delivery companies , but smaller restaurants do not .

The Denver City Council is considering a cap on the fees delivery companies can charge restaurants as the coronavirus continues to batter the industry.
With diminished capacity and social distancing requirements, restaurants are able to serve far fewer customers in-house than before the pandemic, and they’ve leaned on delivery to supplement lost revenue.
But many must rely on third-party delivery companies like Grubhub, DoorDash and Postmates, which can charge restaurants up to 40% of the total bill, Councilwoman Kendra Black said during a committee meeting earlier this month. Her proposal would cap that commission fee at 15% to help struggling restaurants recover some of their lost profit margin.
“That’ll provide immediate relief,” said Mike McKibbin, district manager for Brothers BBQ, a locally owned chain with eight Denver metro locations. “And it would obviously allow us to do things that can only help our business grow and help retain employees.”
Cities including San Francisco, Seattle and New York City have launched similar measures, capping commission fees at between 15% and 20%. Grubhub has pushed back, petitioning to end those caps and even defying the new regulations at times.
Grubhub also opposes the caps in Denver, said spokesperson Katie Norris.
“We believe fee caps are the wrong way to support restaurants, as they will negatively impact restaurants’ order volume and increase costs for diners,” she said.
The council will take its first of two votes on the price cap Monday.
The relief can’t come soon enough, McKibbin said, because patios will begin to close or customers will be less likely to want to eat outside as the weather turns cooler, making delivery orders all the more important. He estimated about a quarter of his restaurants’ business comes through those third-party vendors and that will increase in the winter.
At Leven Deli Co. in Capitol Hill, delivery through third-party companies took over about 10% of the business when the pandemic first hit, said owner Anthony Lygizos. He said those large companies aren’t the enemy but they do create an expensive intermediary between customers and restaurants like his.
“There’s no pride; there’s no care; there’s no training,” Lygizos said. “I get it, everyone needs a job, but you’re just blowing up that buffer.”
Lygizos said he has increased some of his prices when customers order through third-party vendors to compensate for the expensive fees. A price cap would mean fewer costs to pass on to customers in the future, he said.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post Owner of the Leven Deli Co., Anthony Lygizos, center, talks with customers during a wine tasting event at the deli Sept. 25, 2020.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post Leven Deli Co. customers Becca Deal, center, and Tori Logan, right, order lunch from Celestine Lopez, left, from the to-go and patio wording window at the deli Sept. 25, 2020.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post Leven Deli Co. customers enjoy their lunches and great weather on picnic tables at the deli Sept. 25, 2020.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post Owner of the Leven Deli Co., Anthony Lygizos, right, talks with customer Evelyn Zilberman, left, as wine distributer Matt Armitage, center, presents a new bottle during a wine tasting event at the deli Sept. 25, 2020.
Chris Fuselier,owner of the Blake Street Tavern, 2301 Blake St., said the delivery companies might be able to make up the lost revenue from an increase in volume.
Fuselier said he canceled his third-party partnerships before the pandemic hit because they were too expensive but if council approves the price cap, he’ll likely sign up again.
The fees hit the local, family businesses the hardest, Fuselier said. Chain restaurants often have enough leverage to negotiate lower prices with the third-party delivery companies, but smaller restaurants do not.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Colorado teens haven’t cut back on vaping, but experts see encouraging signs

Colorado teens are vaping at about the same rate they have been since 2015 , but there are some signs that could change .
The Healthy Kids Colorado survey , given every two years , asks middle and high school students about their behaviors and feelings related to drugs , sex , nutrition and other topics .
The survey first included questions about vaping in 2015 .
In the most recent data , collected during the 2019 school year , 26 % of those surveyed said they had vaped within the previous 30 days , and 46 % said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s not statistically different from the results in 2015 and 2017 .
The percentage of students who said they ’ d vaped in the last month was down in 10 regions , up in eight and the same in one .
Two regions didn ’ t have data from 2017 to make a comparison .
Regions are made up of one large county or several more-populous ones .
Vaping rates among high school students haven ’ t changed much overall , but it ’ s a victory that use of e-cigarettes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dunn , tobacco communications specialist at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
The percentage of teens who said vaping is risky did increase from about half to almost three-quarters in two years , and more than half of those who use e-cigarettes said they ’ re trying to quit , Dunn said .
The 2019 survey coincided with an outbreak of vaping-related lung illnesses , which likely increased the perception of risk , she said .
The illnesses were caused by an additive that was more common in vaping products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control and Prevention .
The percentage of people using an addictive substance typically doesn ’ t change quickly , so seeing progress on contributing factors is “ promising , ” Dunn said .
“ We know behavior change takes a long time , ” she said .
E-cigarettes can deliver twice the nicotine that cigarettes do , which makes them particularly addictive , said Dr. Judd Dawson , a family physician based in Longmont .
It takes smokers an average of 30 attempts before they can quit for good , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vapers need to try at least that many times , he said .
Since the first attempt may not be successful , parents and others need to support teens to keep trying , Dawson said .
Punitive measures , like suspending students caught vaping at school , could actually be counterproductive , because stress makes nicotine cravings stronger , he said .
“ These kids are going to need more grace than that , because they ’ re going to give up on themselves ” without support , he said .
“ Treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conquer in the long run , not to get through in a week.
” Long-term nicotine use is linked to heart disease , Dawson said , and using a device that encourages people to gather and blow out plumes of chemicals is risky during a respiratory pandemic .
It ’ s difficult to quantify the other risks of e-cigarettes , because they ’ re relatively new and contain a broad range of chemicals .
Raising the price of vaping materials and cracking down on sellers who don ’ t card their customers reduces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes them less enticing , Dunn said .
Some counties that made those changes have succeeded in reducing youth vaping rates , she said .
It ’ s difficult to establish cause and effect in some cases , because Boulder County students reported they were vaping less before a ban on flavored nicotine liquid and sales to people under 21 took effect — though it ’ s possible that publicity about the ban could have influenced behavior .
Anti-smoking campaigns succeeded not only by educating teens about the health risks , but by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause to make it seem like a gross habit rather than a cool one , Dunn said .
E-cigarettes don ’ t cause those problems , so the messages will need to be different , she said .
About 46 % of teens who vaped said their main reason for doing so was because friends or family members did .
“ A lot of that norm-shifting work that went into cigarettes needs to happen with vaping , ” she said .

Colorado teens are vaping at about the same rate they have been since 2015, but there are some signs that could change.
The Healthy Kids Colorado survey, given every two years, asks middle and high school students about their behaviors and feelings related to drugs, sex, nutrition and other topics. The survey first included questions about vaping in 2015.
In the most recent data, collected during the 2019 school year, 26% of those surveyed said they had vaped within the previous 30 days, and 46% said they had tried it at some point. That’s not statistically different from the results in 2015 and 2017.
The percentage of students who said they’d vaped in the last month was down in 10 regions, up in eight and the same in one. Two regions didn’t have data from 2017 to make a comparison. Regions are made up of one large county or several more-populous ones.
Vaping rates among high school students haven’t changed much overall, but it’s a victory that use of e-cigarettes hasn’t increased, said Tara Dunn, tobacco communications specialist at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The percentage of teens who said vaping is risky did increase from about half to almost three-quarters in two years, and more than half of those who use e-cigarettes said they’re trying to quit, Dunn said.
The 2019 survey coincided with an outbreak of vaping-related lung illnesses, which likely increased the perception of risk, she said. The illnesses were caused by an additive that was more common in vaping products with THC, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The percentage of people using an addictive substance typically doesn’t change quickly, so seeing progress on contributing factors is “promising,” Dunn said.
“We know behavior change takes a long time,” she said.
E-cigarettes can deliver twice the nicotine that cigarettes do, which makes them particularly addictive, said Dr. Judd Dawson, a family physician based in Longmont. It takes smokers an average of 30 attempts before they can quit for good, and it wouldn’t be surprising if vapers need to try at least that many times, he said.
Since the first attempt may not be successful, parents and others need to support teens to keep trying, Dawson said. Punitive measures, like suspending students caught vaping at school, could actually be counterproductive, because stress makes nicotine cravings stronger, he said.
“These kids are going to need more grace than that, because they’re going to give up on themselves” without support, he said. “Treat it like a goal you need to conquer in the long run, not to get through in a week.”
Long-term nicotine use is linked to heart disease, Dawson said, and using a device that encourages people to gather and blow out plumes of chemicals is risky during a respiratory pandemic. It’s difficult to quantify the other risks of e-cigarettes, because they’re relatively new and contain a broad range of chemicals.
Raising the price of vaping materials and cracking down on sellers who don’t card their customers reduces access to e-cigarettes, and banning flavors makes them less enticing, Dunn said. Some counties that made those changes have succeeded in reducing youth vaping rates, she said.
It’s difficult to establish cause and effect in some cases, because Boulder County students reported they were vaping less before a ban on flavored nicotine liquid and sales to people under 21 took effect — though it’s possible that publicity about the ban could have influenced behavior.
Anti-smoking campaigns succeeded not only by educating teens about the health risks, but by emphasizing the smell and yellow teeth cigarettes cause to make it seem like a gross habit rather than a cool one, Dunn said. E-cigarettes don’t cause those problems, so the messages will need to be different, she said.
About 46% of teens who vaped said their main reason for doing so was because friends or family members did.
“A lot of that norm-shifting work that went into cigarettes needs to happen with vaping,” she said.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Jackson: Broncos tight end Noah Fant knows how to dance. Now he needs to learn how to get dirty

An NFL tight end has to be two things at once — a brute and a ballerina .
Second-year Broncos tight end Noah Fant has the ballerina part down , but until he becomes a brute , his chances to dance will be limited .
NFL offensive coordinators go to great lengths to disguise what they ’ re doing and eliminate “ tendencies , ” and there ’ s no quicker path to tipping your hand than putting a one-dimensional player on the field .
Fant , as dynamic as he has been in the passing game , struggles as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he ’ s on the field .
Pat Shurmur was hired to build the run game first .
That ’ s how you take pressure off of Drew Lock .
That ’ s why the money was spent on Melvin Gordon after already having Philip Lindsay .
Establish the run and the passing game opens up .
Quarterback keepers and roll outs are effective because the defense chases the run fake in the opposite direction .
That ’ s when Fant can be extra dangerous — coming across the middle with nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But for that to work , the opposing defense has to believe he ’ s a blocker .
That hasn ’ t happened yet .
This is why you ’ re seeing so much of Nick Vannett ; he ’ s the most polished dual threat tight end on the roster .
Teams know he can run block , so when you play-action pass , he comes open .
But when Noah Fant gets down in his stance , the defense knows that if it is a run , it ’ s likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shurmur in a bind .
Noah Fant is working every day to change this dynamic , to become an “ every-down tight end , ” but it takes time .
Run blocking is a three-fold challenge .
One , and the easiest to master , is effort .
There has to be a willingness to initiate contact , to deliver a blow and not be discouraged when you get tossed to the ground .
Second , technique .
For a natural pass-catcher , run-blocking is counter-intuitive .
Running routes is about avoiding contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a defender .
Run-blocking is about smacking a defender , latching on and controlling his movements .
This involves precise foot and hand placement , dropping the hips without dropping the head , squaring up the defender and popping him .
The third part is mastering the run-blocking scheme employed in Shurmur ’ s West Coast-style offense .
“ Zone blocking ” involves blocking an area , not a specific man .
This requires a “ combo block ” between the tight end and tackle , which neutralizes both the defensive end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any defenders in the area who have hostile intentions .
Typically , once the defensive end is blocked , either the tight end or tackle advance to the “ second level ” to block the linebacker .
Who picks up the linebacker depends on which hole he shoots through .
It happens fast and takes a lot of repetition to master — practice made difficult by a COVID-shortened offseason and CBA rules restricting padded practices .
You can ’ t become a better blocker without doing it in shoulder pads and a helmet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a better blocker , then you can ’ t be an every-down tight end .
And when you ’ re not an every-down tight end , the defense knows why you ’ re in the game .
And if the defense knows why you ’ re in the game , they key on you .
The fact that Fant has still been able to flash his brilliance , despite being an easy tell , shows us his potential , and that ’ s something to be excited about .
The sky is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has to get dirty .
Nate Jackson is a former Broncos ’ wide receiver/tight end who now lives in Denver .
He works part-time at 104.3 The Fan .

An NFL tight end has to be two things at once — a brute and a ballerina. Second-year Broncos tight end Noah Fant has the ballerina part down, but until he becomes a brute, his chances to dance will be limited.
NFL offensive coordinators go to great lengths to disguise what they’re doing and eliminate “tendencies,” and there’s no quicker path to tipping your hand than putting a one-dimensional player on the field. Fant, as dynamic as he has been in the passing game, struggles as a blocker, which shrinks the playbook when he’s on the field.
Pat Shurmur was hired to build the run game first. That’s how you take pressure off of Drew Lock. That’s why the money was spent on Melvin Gordon after already having Philip Lindsay. Establish the run and the passing game opens up.
Quarterback keepers and roll outs are effective because the defense chases the run fake in the opposite direction. That’s when Fant can be extra dangerous — coming across the middle with nothing but space in front of him. But for that to work, the opposing defense has to believe he’s a blocker. That hasn’t happened yet.
This is why you’re seeing so much of Nick Vannett; he’s the most polished dual threat tight end on the roster. Teams know he can run block, so when you play-action pass, he comes open. But when Noah Fant gets down in his stance, the defense knows that if it is a run, it’s likely going the other way. This puts Shurmur in a bind.
Noah Fant is working every day to change this dynamic, to become an “every-down tight end,” but it takes time. Run blocking is a three-fold
challenge. One, and the easiest to master, is effort. There has to be a willingness to initiate contact, to deliver a blow and not be discouraged when you get tossed to the ground.
Second, technique. For a natural pass-catcher, run-blocking is counter-intuitive. Running routes is about avoiding contact, slipping punches, and shaking free of a defender. Run-blocking is about smacking a defender, latching on and controlling his movements. This involves precise foot and hand placement, dropping the hips without dropping the head, squaring up the defender and popping him.
The third part is mastering the run-blocking scheme employed in Shurmur’s West Coast-style offense. “Zone blocking” involves blocking an area, not a specific man. This requires a “combo block” between the tight end and tackle, which neutralizes both the defensive end and the linebacker behind him, or any defenders in the area who have hostile intentions. Typically, once the defensive end is blocked, either the tight end or tackle advance to the “second level” to block the linebacker. Who picks up the linebacker depends on which hole he shoots through. It happens fast and takes a lot of repetition to master — practice made difficult by a COVID-shortened offseason and CBA rules restricting padded practices.
You can’t become a better blocker without doing it in shoulder pads and a helmet. And if you don’t become a better blocker, then you can’t be an every-down tight end. And when you’re not an every-down tight end, the defense knows why you’re in the game. And if the defense knows why you’re in the game, they key on you.
The fact that Fant has still been able to flash his brilliance, despite being an easy tell, shows us his potential, and that’s something to be excited about.
The sky is the limit for Fant. But first, he has to get dirty.
Nate Jackson is a former Broncos’ wide receiver/tight end who now lives in Denver. He works part-time at 104.3 The Fan.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Protect your privacy and the environment while upgrading your gear

Taking better care of your tech gear can help make it last longer , but sometimes you just need to upgrade .
Even if your phone , tablet or computer hasn ’ t suffered a fatal flop , you may find it doesn ’ t fit your work-from-home needs , or you plan to pass it down to a family member who needs it for remote learning .
Or , be honest : You really want the fall season ’ s latest , greatest phone .
Whatever the reason for the new purchase , simply tossing your old hardware in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad from a privacy standpoint and for the environment .
When upgrade time comes , here are some security and eco-friendly tips for when your old equipment goes on without you .
To get your old device ready to leave your possession , start by backing up its contents to an external drive or secure cloud server .
Next , look for a program to automatically move your data from the backup or old device .
Apple ’ s support site has guides for transferring the contents of Mac computers and iOS gadgets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Mac or one of Apple ’ s phones or tablets .
Outside the Apple ecosystem , Laplink ’ s PC transfer software transplants data between old and new machines .
Google ’ s support site has instructions for moving data to a new Android phone or transferring it to a Pixel smartphone .
Other phone makers have their own solutions , like Samsung ’ s Smart Switch for its Galaxy products .
Now , de-authorize your old device from any online subscriptions for music , movies , software and cloud services .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or installation programs needed to reinstall applications on new hardware .
( Unless you installed an application from a disc or drive and have the paperwork , serial numbers are typically emailed when you buy computer software online and are still needed even if you download the program again on a new machine . )
Finally , unpair any Bluetooth accessories before you sign out of your user accounts on the device for good .
After you ’ ve transferred your data to its new home , wipe the information from the old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , go from Settings to General and then Reset ; select the Erase All Content and Settings option .
Wiping an Android phone varies by hardware and software versions , but try going to System , then Advanced and Reset Options .
Computers should also be wiped of data before they leave the house .
Apple ’ s support site has guides to erasing a Mac and reinstalling its operating system .
PC users have several disk-deleting programs available , including White Canyon ’ s WipeDrive Home and Eraser .
Check with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reinstalling the operating system ; using another PC with an external drive to download and reinstall Windows 10 or Ubuntu Linux may be one method .
The recipient of your used computer or mobile gadget will need to set it up and install any new applications .
If you plan to give your old smartphone to someone in the family , check with your wireless carrier about adding a new line and other necessary equipment ( like a SIM card ) to get it up and running .
Even without cellular service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online by connecting to a wireless network .
And if you ’ re bequeathing a phone or tablet to a child , Apple and Google both include parental controls in their software .
Trade in ( and up ) If money is tight , swapping your old gadget for credit helps pay for the new one .
Several hardware manufacturers — Amazon , Apple , Dell , Google , Samsung and others — have their own trade-in programs .
Best Buy has a trade-in program in exchange for gift cards or merchandise discounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Gazelle and It ’ s Worth More also convert old electronics into cash .
If your old equipment is in decent shape , donating it to charity is another option .
( You may be able to deduct the contribution from your taxes with a receipt from a recognized charity . )
If no local charities , schools or libraries accept hardware donations , search for a legitimate organization like the National Cristina Foundation or Cell Phones for Soldiers .
The sites for Charity Navigator and the Federal Trade Commission have information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old gear is dead , you can recycle it to recover valuable materials and keep them out of a landfill .
Some municipalities like New York City have regulations concerning “ electronic waste , ” so check your local government ’ s website .
The Environmental Protection Agency ’ s site also has a list of electronics recycling options .
Some manufacturers support “ takeback ” programs that accept products mailed in for recycling ; Amazon , Apple and Google are among them .
Best Buy and Staples stores also accept all kinds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions are temporarily impeding collection , set a reminder on your new device to check back .

The New York Times News Service Syndicate

Taking better care of your tech gear can help make it last longer, but sometimes you just need to upgrade. Even if your phone, tablet or computer hasn’t suffered a fatal flop, you may find it doesn’t fit your work-from-home needs, or you plan to pass it down to a family member who needs it for remote learning. Or, be honest: You really want the fall season’s latest, greatest phone.
Whatever the reason for the new purchase, simply tossing your old hardware in the junk drawer or trash can be bad from a privacy standpoint and for the environment. When upgrade time comes, here are some security and eco-friendly tips for when your old equipment goes on without you.
Prepare for departure
To get your old device ready to leave your possession, start by backing up its contents to an external drive or secure cloud server.
Next, look for a program to automatically move your data from the backup or old device. Apple’s support site has guides for transferring the contents of Mac computers and iOS gadgets, along with advice for giving away a Mac or one of Apple’s phones or tablets.
Outside the Apple ecosystem, Laplink’s PC transfer software transplants data between old and new machines. Google’s support site has instructions for moving data to a new Android phone or transferring it to a Pixel smartphone. Other phone makers have their own solutions, like Samsung’s Smart Switch for its Galaxy products.
Now, de-authorize your old device from any online subscriptions for music, movies, software and cloud services. Make sure you have any serial numbers or installation programs needed to reinstall applications on new hardware. (Unless you installed an application from a disc or drive and have the paperwork, serial numbers are typically emailed when you buy computer software online and are still needed even if you download the program again on a new machine.)
Finally, unpair any Bluetooth accessories before you sign out of your user accounts on the device for good.
Erase your past
After you’ve transferred your data to its new home, wipe the information from the old device. On an iPhone or iPad, go from Settings to General and then Reset; select the Erase All Content and Settings option. Wiping an Android phone varies by hardware and software versions, but try going to System, then Advanced and Reset Options.
Computers should also be wiped of data before they leave the house. Apple’s support site has guides to erasing a Mac and reinstalling its operating system. PC users have several disk-deleting programs available, including White Canyon’s WipeDrive Home and Eraser. Check with the computer’s manufacturer for steps to reinstalling the operating system; using another PC with an external drive to download and reinstall Windows 10 or Ubuntu Linux may be one method.
Pass down a device
The recipient of your used computer or mobile gadget will need to set it up and install any new applications. If you plan to give your old smartphone to someone in the family, check with your wireless carrier about adding a new line and other necessary equipment (like a SIM card) to get it up and running.
Even without cellular service, Wi-Fi-enabled phones and tablets can still get online by connecting to a wireless network. And if you’re bequeathing a phone or tablet to a child, Apple and Google both include parental controls in their software.
Trade in (and up)
If money is tight, swapping your old gadget for credit helps pay for the new one. Several hardware manufacturers — Amazon, Apple, Dell, Google, Samsung and others — have their own trade-in programs.
Best Buy has a trade-in program in exchange for gift cards or merchandise discounts. Third-party companies like Buy Back World, Gazelle and It’s Worth More also convert old electronics into cash.
Give to a good cause
If your old equipment is in decent shape, donating it to charity is another option. (You may be able to deduct the contribution from your taxes with a receipt from a recognized charity.)
If no local charities, schools or libraries accept hardware donations, search for a legitimate organization like the National Cristina Foundation or Cell Phones for Soldiers. The sites for Charity Navigator and the Federal Trade Commission have information on donating wisely.
Recycle responsibly
Even if your old gear is dead, you can recycle it to recover valuable materials and keep them out of a landfill. Some municipalities like New York City have regulations concerning “electronic waste,” so check your local government’s website. The Environmental Protection Agency’s site also has a list of electronics recycling options.
Some manufacturers support “takeback” programs that accept products mailed in for recycling; Amazon, Apple and Google are among them. Best Buy and Staples stores also accept all kinds of electronics for recycling. If pandemic precautions are temporarily impeding collection, set a reminder on your new device to check back.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--The new Apple Watch measures your blood oxygen. Now what?

The new Apple Watch can be summed up in two words : blood oxygen .
The ability to measure your blood ’ s oxygen saturation — an overall indicator of wellness — is the most significant new feature in the Apple Watch Series 6 , which was unveiled this week and becomes available Friday .
( The watch is otherwise not that different from last year ’ s Apple Watch . )
The feature is particularly timely with the coronavirus , because some patients in critical condition with COVID-19 have had low blood oxygen levels .
But how useful is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really ?
I had a day to test the new $ 399 Apple Watch to measure my blood oxygen level .
The process was simple : You open the blood oxygen app on the device , keep your wrist steady and hit the Start button .
After 15 seconds , during which a sensor on the back of the watch measures your blood oxygen level by shining lights onto your wrist , it shows your reading .
In three tests , my blood oxygen level stood between 99 % and 100 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with this information .
So I asked two medical experts about the new feature .
Both were cautiously optimistic about its potential benefits , especially for research .
The ability to constantly monitor blood oxygen levels with some degree of accuracy , they said , could help people discover symptoms for health conditions like sleep apnea .
“ Continuous recording of data can be really interesting to see trends , ” said Cathy A. Goldstein , a sleep physician at the University of Michigan ’ s Medicine Sleep Clinic , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But for most people who are relatively healthy , measuring blood oxygen on an everyday basis could be way more information than we need .
Ethan Weiss , a cardiologist at the University of California , San Francisco , said he was concerned that blood oxygen readings could breed anxiety in people and lead them to take unnecessary tests .
“ It can be positive and negative , ” he cautioned .
“ It could keep people out of doctors ’ offices and at home and give them reassurance , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” That ’ s important to remember as smart watches gain new health-monitoring features that give us information about ourselves that we have to figure out how to use .
When the Apple Watch Series 4 introduced an electrical heart sensor for people to take electrocardiograms in 2018 , it was useful for people with known heart conditions to monitor their health — but doctors warned that it was also a novelty that should not be used to jump to conclusions or for people to self-diagnose heart attacks or other conditions .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What to Know About Blood Oxygen Levels A healthy person will usually have blood oxygen levels in the mid- to high 90s .
When people have health conditions such as lung disease , sleep disorders or respiratory infections , levels can dip to the 60s to the low 90s , Goldstein said .
If you buy the Apple Watch and have access to information about your blood oxygen levels all the time , it ’ s important to have a framework for thinking about the data .
Most importantly , you should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can share the measurements so that you can place it into context with your overall health , like your age and preexisting conditions , Goldstein said .
But when it comes to medical advice and diagnosis , always defer to a doctor .
If you notice a big dip in your blood oxygen level , it is not necessarily a reason to panic , and you should talk to your doctor to decide whether to investigate .
And if you have symptoms of illness , such as fever or a cough , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a reason to skip talking to a medical professional , Goldstein said .
Let a medical expert — not your watch — create the action plan .
Blood oxygen monitoring may be more useful for people who are already known to have health problems , Weiss said .
For example , if someone with a history of heart failure saw lower saturation levels in their blood oxygen during exercise , that information could be shared with a doctor , who could then modify the treatment plan .
The information could also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should go to the hospital .
“ If a patient called me and said , ‘ I have COVID , and my oxygen level is at 80 % , ’ I would say , ‘ Go to the hospital , ” ’ Weiss said .
So Why Should I Care ?
In the end , health data on its own isn ’ t immediately useful , and we have to decide how to make the best use of the information .
Apple doesn ’ t recommend what to do or how to feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bathroom scale doesn ’ t tell you you ’ re overweight and give you a diet plan .
If you find that the data makes you more anxious , you could simply disable the feature , Goldstein said .
But even if blood oxygen measurement sounds gimmicky today , it ’ s important to keep an open mind about how new health-monitoring technologies might benefit us in the future .
Both Goldstein and Weiss pointed to sleep apnea as an area where wearable computers might benefit people .
The condition , which causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans , but most people never know that they have it .
It ’ s a bit of a Catch-22 .
If you had symptoms of sleep apnea , which include lower blood oxygen levels , your doctor would order a test .
But you probably wouldn ’ t catch the symptoms while you were asleep , so a study would never be ordered .
The Apple Watch will periodically measure your blood oxygen level in the background , including when you are asleep .
So if we gather data about ourselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might discover something unknown about ourselves — or not .
“ Until we start doing it , we don ’ t know whether or not this information can be valuable , ” Goldstein said .

The new Apple Watch can be summed up in two words: blood oxygen.
The ability to measure your blood’s oxygen saturation — an overall indicator of wellness — is the most significant new feature in the Apple Watch Series 6, which was unveiled this month. (The watch is otherwise not that different from last year’s Apple Watch.) The feature is particularly timely with the coronavirus, because some patients in critical condition with COVID-19 have had low blood oxygen levels.
But how useful is this feature for all of us, really?
I had a day to test the new $399 Apple Watch to measure my blood oxygen level. The process was simple: You open the blood oxygen app on the device, keep your wrist steady and hit the Start button. After 15 seconds, during which a sensor on the back of the watch measures your blood oxygen level by shining lights onto your wrist, it shows your reading. In three tests, my blood oxygen level stood between 99% and 100%.
I wasn’t quite sure what to do with this information. So I asked two medical experts about the new feature. Both were cautiously optimistic about its potential benefits, especially for research. The ability to constantly monitor blood oxygen levels with some degree of accuracy, they said, could help people discover symptoms for health conditions like sleep apnea.
“Continuous recording of data can be really interesting to see trends,” said Cathy A. Goldstein, a sleep physician at the University of Michigan’s Medicine Sleep Clinic, who has researched data collected by Apple Watches.
But for most people who are relatively healthy, measuring blood oxygen on an everyday basis could be way more information than we need. Ethan Weiss, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said he was concerned that blood oxygen readings could breed anxiety in people and lead them to take unnecessary tests.
“It can be positive and negative,” he cautioned. “It could keep people out of doctors’ offices and at home and give them reassurance, but it could also create a lot of anxiety.”
That’s important to remember as smart watches gain new health-monitoring features that give us information about ourselves that we have to figure out how to use. When the Apple Watch Series 4 introduced an electrical heart sensor for people to take electrocardiograms in 2018, it was useful for people with known heart conditions to monitor their health — but doctors warned that it was also a novelty that should not be used to jump to conclusions or for people to self-diagnose heart attacks or other conditions.
And so, here we are again.
What to know about blood oxygen levels
A healthy person will usually have blood oxygen levels in the mid- to high 90s. When people have health conditions such as lung disease, sleep disorders or respiratory infections, levels can dip to the 60s to the low 90s, Goldstein said.
If you buy the Apple Watch and have access to information about your blood oxygen levels all the time, it’s important to have a framework for thinking about the data. Most importantly, you should have a primary care physician with whom you can share the measurements so that you can place it into context with your overall health, like your age and preexisting conditions, Goldstein said.
But when it comes to medical advice and diagnosis, always defer to a doctor. If you notice a big dip in your blood oxygen level, it is not necessarily a reason to panic, and you should talk to your doctor to decide whether to investigate. And if you have symptoms of illness, such as fever or a cough, a normal blood oxygen reading shouldn’t be a reason to skip talking to a medical professional, Goldstein said.
Let a medical expert — not your watch — create the action plan.
Blood oxygen monitoring may be more useful for people who are already known to have health problems, Weiss said. For example, if someone with a history of heart failure saw lower saturation levels in their blood oxygen during exercise, that information could be shared with a doctor, who could then modify the treatment plan.
The information could also be used to determine whether a sick person should go to the hospital. “If a patient called me and said, ‘I have COVID, and my oxygen level is at 80%,’ I would say, ‘Go to the hospital,” ’ Weiss said.
So why should I care?
In the end, health data on its own isn’t immediately useful, and we have to decide how to make the best use of the information. Apple doesn’t recommend what to do or how to feel about the information, just as a bathroom scale doesn’t tell you you’re overweight and give you a diet plan.
If you find that the data makes you more anxious, you could simply disable the feature, Goldstein said.
But even if blood oxygen measurement sounds gimmicky today, it’s important to keep an open mind about how new health-monitoring technologies might benefit us in the future. Both Goldstein and Weiss pointed to sleep apnea as an area where wearable computers might benefit people. The condition, which causes breathing problems during sleep, affects millions of Americans, but most people never know that they have it.
It’s a bit of a Catch-22. If you had symptoms of sleep apnea, which include lower blood oxygen levels, your doctor would order a test. But you probably wouldn’t catch the symptoms while you were asleep, so a study would never be ordered.
The Apple Watch will periodically measure your blood oxygen level in the background, including when you are asleep. So if we gather data about ourselves while we’re slumbering, we might discover something unknown about ourselves — or not.
“Until we start doing it, we don’t know whether or not this information can be valuable,” Goldstein said.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Facebook Oculus Quest 2 is a solid VR headset but has few games

A group of five boxers and I recently threw punches to upbeat music while an instructor egged us on .
By the end of the 20-minute workout , I ’ d broken a sweat and my smartwatch showed my heart rate thumping at 140 beats a minute .
Normally , this would be the result of a workout at my local gym .
But in a pandemic that has forced most fitness centers to shut down , I had to settle for a make-believe boxing class while wearing a computer headset and jabbing and punching with a pair of motion-sensing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what I ’ ve been doing in Facebook ’ s new virtual-reality system , the Oculus Quest 2 , which the company unveiled this month , to escape from the seemingly never-ending , pandemic-induced stay-at-home session .
In another game , I played Texas Hold ’ em poker with a table of chatty players .
In still another , I rowed a kayak to infiltrate an enemy base .
The Oculus Quest 2 is Facebook ’ s latest foray into virtual reality gaming .
In this version , Oculus , the virtual-reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in 2014 , took what it learned from earlier experiments selling bulky headgear wired to powerful computers as well as wireless goggles that relied on smartphones to run games .
Now the Quest 2 , the company said , blends the best of both worlds .
It ’ s a complete virtual reality system inside a portable headset ( no phone required ) .
And if you want to play more powerful games , you have the option of attaching the headset to a personal computer ( which will require buying a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) for extra horsepower .
“ Everything felt to us like we were compromising on this or that , but now we can say we have this hybrid experience , ” said Prabhu Parthasarathy , a product manager for Facebook ’ s Oculus .
Based on my tests for a week , the Quest 2 is a major improvement from the Oculus Rift , Facebook ’ s first virtual-reality system in 2016 .
The Oculus Rift suffered from a complicated setup , awkward controls and lackluster games — and it required a powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost up to $ 1,500 .
The Oculus Quest 2 , which costs $ 300 , is more compelling and easier to set up .
There are now also more than 200 titles for people to choose from , including puzzle games , shooters and creativity apps .
So how was it ?
Compared with sitting next to an air purifier while doomscrolling through news about the California wildfires , I had fun in Facebook ’ s virtual la-la land .
But many of the games quickly felt repetitive and strained my eyes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preferred vegging out with my PlayStation or Nintendo consoles , which have far superior video games .
Here ’ s how the Quest 2 works , its pros and cons and what to expect if you buy a virtual-reality system today : Compared with past virtual-reality systems , the Quest 2 is a breeze to set up .
You simply download the Oculus app to your phone and log in with your Facebook account .
( In October , Facebook will begin requiring new Oculus users to log in with Facebook accounts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to turn on the headset and synchronize the two wireless controllers .
The headset and controllers include motion sensors to follow your head and hand movements .
For safety reasons , don ’ t expect to walk around : You ’ ll only play Oculus virtual-reality games either standing up or sitting down .
When you stand up , the system lets you see through the headset using a camera so that you can use the controllers to draw an outline around your play area to avoid striking obstacles .
The headset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lenses .
Overall , the video looked clear .
But after moving your head around a lot , images can look blurry and it will occasionally need readjusting to bring the picture back into focus .
The headset ’ s battery will last two to three hours , and it ’ s rechargeable by plugging in a USB cable .
The motion controllers use AA batteries , which will last many sessions — I still haven ’ t had to replace them .
You can easily buy games through the Oculus app store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the system begins to fade .
I asked Oculus product managers to name a few of their favorite games that would show the Quest 2 ’ s strengths .
Ultimately , I felt most weren ’ t worth my money .
Consider Beat Saber , a rhythm game that involves swinging your arms to hit objects with light sabers .
At first , this felt like a fun demonstration of the Quest 2 ’ s three-dimensional motion-sensing capabilities .
But it got old quickly because it reminded me of Dance Dance Revolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games from more than a decade ago .
Another recommended title was Phantom : Covert Ops .
It ’ s a stealth game where you sneak into enemy bases by rowing around a kayak and shooting opponents from the boat .
This game , which is played sitting down , got frustrating quickly because the rowing motions are tedious .
I also couldn ’ t stop thinking about how the premise of a stealth kayak was laughably implausible and how much I ’ d rather be playing Metal Gear Solid , the stealth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In that game , at least I got to move around with legs . )
My favorite game , which was recommended by Oculus staff , was FitXR , the boxing simulator , in large part because I took boxing classes for many years .
The game makes clever use of the motion controllers to require players to do realistic punching motions ; wimpy punches don ’ t score points .
There were always plenty of players online to compete with , which kept me motivated through each workout .
In the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oculus games and only felt happy with the $ 30 I spent on FitXR .
I regretted spending $ 20 to $ 30 on the other titles because they brought me minutes of entertainment , not hours .
In contrast , a mainstream game for PlayStation or Nintendo typically costs $ 60 but provides dozens of hours of entertainment .
That ’ s all to say that Facebook has nailed the Oculus hardware , but it still has a long way to go with content .
I ’ m still waiting for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Last of Us Part II did on PlayStation 4 or The Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wild did on Nintendo Switch .
To be fair , virtual reality content in general still has a long way to go .
Sony also offers a $ 300 VR headset , the PlayStation VR , which plugs into the PlayStation console , and its VR games also aren ’ t as compelling as standard console titles .

A group of five boxers and I recently threw punches to upbeat music while an instructor egged us on. By the end of the 20-minute workout, I’d broken a sweat and my smartwatch showed my heart rate thumping at 140 beats a minute.
Normally, this would be the result of a workout at my local gym. But in a pandemic that has forced most fitness centers to shut down, I had to settle for a make-believe boxing class while wearing a computer headset and jabbing and punching with a pair of motion-sensing controllers.
That’s just part of what I’ve been doing in Facebook’s new virtual-reality system, the Oculus Quest 2, which the company unveiled this month, to escape from the seemingly never-ending, pandemic-induced stay-at-home session. In another game, I played Texas Hold ’em poker with a table of chatty players. In still another, I rowed a kayak to infiltrate an enemy base.
The Oculus Quest 2 is Facebook’s latest foray into virtual reality gaming. In this version, Oculus, the virtual-reality company that Facebook acquired for $2 billion in 2014, took what it learned from earlier experiments selling bulky headgear wired to powerful computers as well as wireless goggles that relied on smartphones to run games.
Now the Quest 2, the company said, blends the best of both worlds. It’s a complete virtual reality system inside a portable headset (no phone required). And if you want to play more powerful games, you have the option of attaching the headset to a personal computer (which will require buying a separate PC for upward of $829) for extra horsepower.
“Everything felt to us like we were compromising on this or that, but now we can say we have this hybrid experience,” said Prabhu Parthasarathy, a product manager for Facebook’s Oculus.
Based on my tests for a week, the Quest 2 is a major improvement from the Oculus Rift, Facebook’s first virtual-reality system in 2016. The Oculus Rift suffered from a complicated setup, awkward controls and lackluster games — and it required a powerful computer to work, which drove the cost up to $1,500.
The Oculus Quest 2, which costs $300, is more compelling and easier to set up. There are now also more than 200 titles for people to choose from, including puzzle games, shooters and creativity apps.
So how was it? Compared with sitting next to an air purifier while doomscrolling through news about the California wildfires, I had fun in Facebook’s virtual la-la land. But many of the games quickly felt repetitive and strained my eyes. In the end, I much preferred vegging out with my PlayStation or Nintendo consoles, which have far superior video games.
Here’s how the Quest 2 works, its pros and cons and what to expect if you buy a virtual-reality system today:
Product setup and overview
Compared with past virtual-reality systems, the Quest 2 is a breeze to set up. You simply download the Oculus app to your phone and log in with your Facebook account. (In October, Facebook will begin requiring new Oculus users to log in with Facebook accounts.) The app then walks you through how to turn on the headset and synchronize the two wireless controllers.
The headset and controllers include motion sensors to follow your head and hand movements. For safety reasons, don’t expect to walk around: You’ll only play Oculus virtual-reality games either standing up or sitting down. When you stand up, the system lets you see through the headset using a camera so that you can use the controllers to draw an outline around your play area to avoid striking obstacles.
The headset feels lightweight and includes adjustable straps and lenses. Overall, the video looked clear. But after moving your head around a lot, images can look blurry and it will occasionally need readjusting to bring the picture back into focus.
The headset’s battery will last two to three hours, and it’s rechargeable by plugging in a USB cable. The motion controllers use AA batteries, which will last many sessions — I still haven’t had to replace them.
You can easily buy games through the Oculus app store. Here’s where my praise for the system begins to fade.
So-So games
I asked Oculus product managers to name a few of their favorite games that would show the Quest 2’s strengths. Ultimately, I felt most weren’t worth my money.
Consider Beat Saber, a rhythm game that involves swinging your arms to hit objects with light sabers. At first, this felt like a fun demonstration of the Quest 2’s three-dimensional motion-sensing capabilities. But it got old quickly because it reminded me of Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero, two popular rhythm games from more than a decade ago.
Another recommended title was Phantom: Covert Ops. It’s a stealth game where you sneak into enemy bases by rowing around a kayak and shooting opponents from the boat. This game, which is played sitting down, got frustrating quickly because the rowing motions are tedious. I also couldn’t stop thinking about how the premise of a stealth kayak was laughably implausible and how much I’d rather be playing Metal Gear Solid, the stealth game that this one imitates. (In that game, at least I got to move around with legs.)
My favorite game, which was recommended by Oculus staff, was FitXR, the boxing simulator, in large part because I took boxing classes for many years. The game makes clever use of the motion controllers to require players to do realistic punching motions; wimpy punches don’t score points. There were always plenty of players online to compete with, which kept me motivated through each workout.
In the end, I paid $110 for the Oculus games and only felt happy with the $30 I spent on FitXR. I regretted spending $20 to $30 on the other titles because they brought me minutes of entertainment, not hours. In contrast, a mainstream game for PlayStation or Nintendo typically costs $60 but provides dozens of hours of entertainment.
Bottom line
That’s all to say that Facebook has nailed the Oculus hardware, but it still has a long way to go with content. I’m still waiting for a virtual-reality game that truly consumes me like The Last of Us Part II did on PlayStation 4 or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did on Nintendo Switch.
To be fair, virtual reality content in general still has a long way to go. Sony also offers a $300 VR headset, the PlayStation VR, which plugs into the PlayStation console, and its VR games also aren’t as compelling as standard console titles.