mercurynews--2020-10-09--Review: Filmmaker Blank crafts a winning debut movie

Precociousness can be a curse if adulthood successes don ’ t live up to your assumed potential .
And placement on one of those 30-Under-30 lists is just a cruel public reminder what ( probably ) should ’ ve been — especially if you are nearing the end of your third decade without much to show for it .
This is the situation a New York playwright finds herself in in ” The Forty-Year-Old Version , ” a quick-witted and lively debut from writer , director , producer and star Radha Blank .
It won her a directing award at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the masses Friday via Netflix .
Blank plays a semi-fictionalized version of herself in this beautifully , classically New York film , which is shot in crisp black and white .
The 30-Under-30 playwriting award sits in her small Harlem apartment taunting her as she goes through the motions of her life teaching drama to rowdy high schoolers and toiling away at projects that she knows won ’ t get made .
She ’ s getting anxious and desperate to make a mark and the somewhat recent death of her artist mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The play that she ’ s working on is about a Black couple living in a gentrified Harlem .
The local Black theater company won ’ t make it , so she pressures her agent and friend Archie ( Peter Y. Kim ) to look for other options .
It lands her an audience with a respected producer J. Whitman ( Reed Birney ) , who has the money and the connections but also only seems to produce Black “ poverty porn ” plays for white audiences .
Her conflict over whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whitman would want ( more white people , more about gentrification , more Black stereotypes ) or to use her voice elsewhere ( she tries rapping about her life ) propels the film .
The journey is filled with funny and cringey moments as she attempts to find herself and her voice .
Blank is an excellent , empathetic and hilarious lead and she ’ s surrounded herself with an ace supporting cast , including Kim , Birney and Oswin Benjamin as a big-hearted music producer .
At its heart , “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about who gets to make art and which voices we celebrate , although you don ’ t exactly need a study to tell you that Black women are some of the least represented voices in filmmaking .
This is exactly why Blank chose the title she did .
It ’ s not an accident that “ The Forty-Year-Old Version ” sounds like another famous movie title .
She meant to appropriate Judd Apatow ’ s “ The 40-Year-Old-Virgin , ” made by a filmmaker who loves a long comedy about a protagonist ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figuring it out.
” It ’ s not meant to be mean to Apatow or his film and the specific connections end there , but the Apatowian genre is one that not many others get to make .
She even decided that hers would be as long as his , which may have been her only mistake , but it ’ s a funny gesture nonetheless .
We don ’ t generally bring out any fanfare for artists who make their first film or play or album in their 40s or beyond , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impressive .
In some ways , it ’ s probably harder .
“ The Forty-Year-Old Version ” makes a compelling case for another set of lists : The 40-Over-40 .
They deserve it just as much , if not more .
Rating : R ( for pervasive language , sexual content , some drug use and brief nudity )

By Lindsey Bahr | Associated Press
Precociousness can be a curse if adulthood successes don’t live up to your assumed potential. And placement on one of those 30-Under-30 lists is just a cruel public reminder what (probably) should’ve been — especially if you are nearing the end of your third decade without much to show for it. This is the situation a New York playwright finds herself in in ” The Forty-Year-Old Version,” a quick-witted and lively debut from writer, director, producer and star Radha Blank. It won her a directing award at the Sundance Film Festival and is coming to the masses Friday via Netflix.
Blank plays a semi-fictionalized version of herself in this beautifully, classically New York film, which is shot in crisp black and white. The 30-Under-30 playwriting award sits in her small Harlem apartment taunting her as she goes through the motions of her life teaching drama to rowdy high schoolers and toiling away at projects that she knows won’t get made. She’s getting anxious and desperate to make a mark and the somewhat recent death of her artist mother has made getting motivated even more difficult.
The play that she’s working on is about a Black couple living in a gentrified Harlem. The local Black theater company won’t make it, so she pressures her agent and friend Archie (Peter Y. Kim) to look for other options. It lands her an audience with a respected producer J. Whitman (Reed Birney), who has the money and the connections but also only seems to produce Black “poverty porn” plays for white audiences.
Her conflict over whether to make an inauthentic play the way Whitman would want (more white people, more about gentrification, more Black stereotypes) or to use her voice elsewhere (she tries rapping about her life) propels the film. The journey is filled with funny and cringey moments as she attempts to find herself and her voice. Blank is an excellent, empathetic and hilarious lead and she’s surrounded herself with an ace supporting cast, including Kim, Birney and Oswin Benjamin as a big-hearted music producer.
At its heart, “The Forty-Year-Old Version” is a wry commentary about who gets to make art and which voices we celebrate, although you don’t exactly need a study to tell you that Black women are some of the least represented voices in filmmaking. This is exactly why Blank chose the title she did. It’s not an accident that “The Forty-Year-Old Version” sounds like another famous movie title. She meant to appropriate Judd Apatow’s “The 40-Year-Old-Virgin,” made by a filmmaker who loves a long comedy about a protagonist (usually a white man) just “figuring it out.” It’s not meant to be mean to Apatow or his film and the specific connections end there, but the Apatowian genre is one that not many others get to make. She even decided that hers would be as long as his, which may have been her only mistake, but it’s a funny gesture nonetheless.
We don’t generally bring out any fanfare for artists who make their first film or play or album in their 40s or beyond, as though it’s any less impressive. In some ways, it’s probably harder. “The Forty-Year-Old Version” makes a compelling case for another set of lists: The 40-Over-40. They deserve it just as much, if not more.
“The Forty-Year-Old Version”
3 1/2 stars out of 4
Rating: R (for pervasive language, sexual content, some drug use and brief nudity)
Running time: 129 minutes


mercurynews--2020-10-09--Fox News viewers use fewer coronavirus safety precautions than CNN viewers, study finds

Viewers who trust Fox News coverage more than CNN ’ s are slightly less likely to take preventative measures against the novel coronavirus and a little more likely to put themselves at risk , according to a new study published Thursday in the journal BMJ Global Health .
“ Health messaging , despite being one of the few effective ways to slow down the spread of the virus in the absence of a vaccine , is doomed to fail if the media prioritize political interests over population health , ” said study authors Erfei Zhao and Qiao Wu , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California .
Among the nearly 5,000 adults who participated in an online survey every two weeks from March to June , around 29 % said they trusted CNN more than Fox ; about half ( 52 % ) expressed no preference , and one in five ( 20 % ) said they trusted Fox more than CNN .
Devotees of Fox News consistently practiced more risky behaviors — such as going out to a bar or club , attending gatherings of more than 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — than CNN viewers , the study found .
In addition , the study found Fox News enthusiasts consistently practiced fewer preventative measures — such as wearing a mask , sanitizing hands , avoiding restaurants and canceling social plans — than CNN fans .
“ The most we can take away from the study is that there is a correlation between news preference ( at the beginning of the study ) and frequency of infection-mitigating behaviors — a relationship that strengthens over time , ” said Christopher Federico , who directs the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Study of Political Psychology , in an email .
“ This ‘ suggests ’ that there is something about the different news sources that influences behavior , but we can not conclude that for sure given the methodology , ” said Federico , who was not involved in the study .
The study ’ s authors noted that the research was “ observational , and as such , can ’ t establish cause.
” “ That said , there is some evidence from other studies — using better methodologies — that exposure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain behaviors ( e.g.
, voting ) , ” Federico said .
Trust in news seems to affect behavior The new study analyzed data from the Understanding America Study , an ongoing longitudinal national online survey of approximately 9,000 US adults .
Every two weeks from March 10 to June 9 , participants were asked questions about how they had protected themselves from Covid-19 over the last seven days , among other things .
The final analysis looked at data from 4,863 respondents who completed questionnaires every two weeks without fail .
CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the World Health Organization and others , followed by those who had no preference in their media choice .
Viewers who trusted CNN for their news on Covid-19 engaged in an average of 3.85 preventative behaviors during the study period , while people who trusted Fox News took an average of 3.41 safety precautions .
Older Americans over age 65 , which means they ’ re in a higher risk group if they contract the virus , were also more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women , the more educated and those of non-Hispanic Asian ethnic backgrounds , according to the study .
People with a job , but unable to work from home , were least likely to follow preventative behaviors , the study found .
Overall , Fox viewers engaged in an average of 1.25 risky behaviors during the study period , while CNN viewers participated in 0.94 of such risky behaviors such as going to other people ’ s homes and attending larger gatherings .
While that might appear to be a small number by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of preventative behaviors increases overall risk significantly , said the study authors .
In addition , risky behavior in Fox News fans increased with the passage of time , the study found , with the highest levels occurring in late May and June .
“ This new study suggests that when Fox ’ s biggest stars listened to public health experts and echoed their educational information , back in March and April , Fox viewers listened and acted accordingly , ” Stelter said .
“ When those same stars changed their tone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more politically driven narrative ’ in May , viewers also heard that loud and clear — and relaxed their safety precautions.
” Early in the pandemic , Fox host Sean Hannity consistently compared Covid-19 fatality numbers with those of the seasonal flu , concluding that the novel coronavirus is less lethal than influenza .
“ Listen , even friends of mine saying is it really that bad ?
” Hannity asked Fox medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel on March 6 .
“ This virus should be compared to the flu , because at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scenario it could be the flu , ” Siegel replied .
“ This was shockingly irresponsible stuff — and Fox executives knew it , because by the beginning of March , they were taking precautions that belied Siegel ’ s just-the-flu statement , ” Stelter wrote in his new book “ Hoax : Donald Trump , Fox News , and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth.
” “ The network canceled a big event for hundreds of advertisers , instituted deep cleanings of the office and began to put a work-from-home plan in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending mixed messages to millions of viewers , ” he wrote .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , corrected that assumption in early March during an on-air interview with Hannity just four days after Siegel ’ s flu comparison .
“ To make sure your viewers get an accurate idea about what goes on , you mentioned seasonal flu , ” Fauci said to Hannity .
“ The mortality for seasonal flu is 0.1 .
The mortality for this is about 2 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower than that , it ’ s probably closer to 1 .
But even if it ’ s 1 ( percent ) it ’ s ten times more lethal than the seasonal flu , ” Fauci said .
The impact of more media sources Additional research shows an association between use of only one media source and belief structure about the pandemic .
A new report from Pew Research center , published Wednesday , found 90 % of Republicans who only listened to Fox News or talk radio as major sources of political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak as well as it could .
But when those same Republican-leaning viewers relied on at least one of other major news providers , only 46 % said the US controlled the outbreak as well as it could .
The surveys showed “ a clear connection between news diet within the GOP and views on the pandemic , ” the authors said .
• 49ers Hall of Famer Fred Dean hospitalized with coronavirus , former teammate says • California EDD backlog of jobless claims shrinks , but remains above 1 million • Pac-12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good to go , Stanford ’ s on the move , and Cal ’ s in limbo • The 50 richest Americans are worth as much as the poorest 165 million “ Many millions of viewers take their cues from Fox .
That ’ s why it was so dangerous when commentators and hosts pooh-poohed the severity of the pandemic and treated it more like a political spat than a medical emergency , ” Stelter said .
“ Fox ’ s coverage misinformed President Trump and millions of other people .
And this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — it is still happening today.
” It ’ s time for the media to take responsibility for their behavior , said the USC study authors .
“ Not only do politically driven narratives lead to biased health messaging , but also people may actively filter out the information that does not match their political leanings , ” they added .
“ Media should reduce their partisan stance on health information so that they do not cloud the public ’ s judgment during a health crisis .
”

Viewers who trust Fox News coverage more than CNN’s are slightly less likely to take preventative measures against the novel coronavirus and a little more likely to put themselves at risk, according to a new study published Thursday in the journal BMJ Global Health.
“Health messaging, despite being one of the few effective ways to slow down the spread of the virus in the absence of a vaccine, is doomed to fail if the media prioritize political interests over population health,” said study authors Erfei Zhao and Qiao Wu, who are both PhD students at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California.
Among the nearly 5,000 adults who participated in an online survey every two weeks from March to June, around 29% said they trusted CNN more than Fox; about half (52%) expressed no preference, and one in five (20%) said they trusted Fox more than CNN.
Devotees of Fox News consistently practiced more risky behaviors — such as going out to a bar or club, attending gatherings of more than 10 people or visiting others in their homes — than CNN viewers, the study found.
In addition, the study found Fox News enthusiasts consistently practiced fewer preventative measures — such as wearing a mask, sanitizing hands, avoiding restaurants and canceling social plans — than CNN fans.
“The most we can take away from the study is that there is a correlation between news preference (at the beginning of the study) and frequency of infection-mitigating behaviors — a relationship that strengthens over time,” said Christopher Federico, who directs the University of Minnesota’s Center for the Study of Political Psychology, in an email.
“This ‘suggests’ that there is something about the different news sources that influences behavior, but we cannot conclude that for sure given the methodology,” said Federico, who was not involved in the study.
The study’s authors noted that the research was “observational, and as such, can’t establish cause.”
“That said, there is some evidence from other studies — using better methodologies — that exposure to Fox does have a causal effect on certain behaviors (e.g., voting),” Federico said.
Trust in news seems to affect behavior
The new study analyzed data from the Understanding America Study, an ongoing longitudinal national online survey of approximately 9,000 US adults. Every two weeks from March 10 to June 9, participants were asked questions about how they had protected themselves from Covid-19 over the last seven days, among other things.
The final analysis looked at data from 4,863 respondents who completed questionnaires every two weeks without fail.
CNN viewers were most likely to follow protective guidelines issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and others, followed by those who had no preference in their media choice.
Viewers who trusted CNN for their news on Covid-19 engaged in an average of 3.85 preventative behaviors during the study period, while people who trusted Fox News took an average of 3.41 safety precautions.
Older Americans over age 65, which means they’re in a higher risk group if they contract the virus, were also more likely to use protective measures, as were women, the more educated and those of non-Hispanic Asian ethnic backgrounds, according to the study.
People with a job, but unable to work from home, were least likely to follow preventative behaviors, the study found.
Overall, Fox viewers engaged in an average of 1.25 risky behaviors during the study period, while CNN viewers participated in 0.94 of such risky behaviors such as going to other people’s homes and attending larger gatherings.
While that might appear to be a small number by itself, adding risky behavior to a lack of preventative behaviors increases overall risk significantly, said the study authors.
In addition, risky behavior in Fox News fans increased with the passage of time, the study found, with the highest levels occurring in late May and June.
That’s revealing, said CNN chief media correspondent Brian Stelter.
“This new study suggests that when Fox’s biggest stars listened to public health experts and echoed their educational information, back in March and April, Fox viewers listened and acted accordingly,” Stelter said.
“When those same stars changed their tone and Fox ‘switched back to a more politically driven narrative’ in May, viewers also heard that loud and clear — and relaxed their safety precautions.”
Flu vs Covid-19
Early in the pandemic, Fox host Sean Hannity consistently compared Covid-19 fatality numbers with those of the seasonal flu, concluding that the novel coronavirus is less lethal than influenza.
“Listen, even friends of mine saying is it really that bad?” Hannity asked Fox medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel on March 6.
“This virus should be compared to the flu, because at worst, at worst, worst case scenario it could be the flu,” Siegel replied.
“This was shockingly irresponsible stuff — and Fox executives knew it, because by the beginning of March, they were taking precautions that belied Siegel’s just-the-flu statement,” Stelter wrote in his new book “Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth.”
“The network canceled a big event for hundreds of advertisers, instituted deep cleanings of the office and began to put a work-from-home plan in place. Yet Fox’s stars kept sending mixed messages to millions of viewers,” he wrote.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, corrected that assumption in early March during an on-air interview with Hannity just four days after Siegel’s flu comparison.
“To make sure your viewers get an accurate idea about what goes on, you mentioned seasonal flu,” Fauci said to Hannity.
“The mortality for seasonal flu is 0.1. The mortality for this is about 2, 2.5%. It’s probably lower than that, it’s probably closer to 1. But even if it’s 1 (percent) it’s ten times more lethal than the seasonal flu,” Fauci said.
The impact of more media sources
Additional research shows an association between use of only one media source and belief structure about the pandemic.
A new report from Pew Research center, published Wednesday, found 90% of Republicans who only listened to Fox News or talk radio as major sources of political news say the country has controlled the outbreak as well as it could.
But when those same Republican-leaning viewers relied on at least one of other major news providers, only 46% said the US controlled the outbreak as well as it could.
The surveys showed “a clear connection between news diet within the GOP and views on the pandemic,” the authors said.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge “Many millions of viewers take their cues from Fox. That’s why it was so dangerous when commentators and hosts pooh-poohed the severity of the pandemic and treated it more like a political spat than a medical emergency,” Stelter said.
“Fox’s coverage misinformed President Trump and millions of other people. And this isn’t just a past-tense story — it is still happening today.”
It’s time for the media to take responsibility for their behavior, said the USC study authors.
“Not only do politically driven narratives lead to biased health messaging, but also people may actively filter out the information that does not match their political leanings,” they added.
“Media should reduce their partisan stance on health information so that they do not cloud the public’s judgment during a health crisis.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-10-09--Review: ‘Hubie Halloween’ shows Sandler in his element

The distance for Adam Sandler from last year ’ s frantic , high-wire act “ Uncut Gems ” to his new Netflix comedy , “ Hubie Halloween , ” is great , but maybe not as vast as it sounds .
Both feature Sandler playing someone who romanticizes something out of proportion ( a high-priced gem in “ Uncut Gems , ” Halloween in “ Hubie Halloween ” ) , an appearance by a former NBA star ( Kevin Garnett in “ Uncut Gems , ” Shaquille O ’ Neal in “ Hubie Halloween ” ) and June Squibb wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” OK , that last one isn ’ t in “ Uncut Gems ” but you wouldn ’ t exactly put it past the Safdie brothers , either .
Yes , Sandler ’ s bouncing between movie realms has seemingly grown even more schizophrenic in recent years as his factory of Netflix releases chugs along with occasional departures like “ The Meyerowitz Stories ( New and Selected ) ” and “ Uncut Gems.
” But here ’ s the thing : “ Hubie Halloween ” is good .
Yeah , I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The latest Billy Madison production might not seem especially distinguishable from the rest of Sandler ’ s recent Netflix output .
In many ways it ’ s not .
It ’ s got most of his regular chums ( Kevin James , Tim Meadows , Rob Schneider ) and it ’ s directed by Steven Brill , who helmed Sandler ’ s “ Sandy Wexler , ” “ The Do-Over , ” “ Mr .
Deeds ” and “ Little Nicky.
” These are movies made with only a little more thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s run it back !
” And yet it feels like it ’ s been a while since it was this much fun to watch Sandler et al goofing around .
Sandler , already inextricably linked to Thanksgiving , has now left a mark on Halloween .
Maybe it ’ s because his movies can seem like ( highly paid ) extended vacations with friends , but holidays seem to work for him .
The destination this time is Salem , Massachusetts , where Hubie Dubois ( Sandler ) , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the butt of jokes since high school , taunted for his unhipness and his good-hearted sincerity .
He ’ s an immediately familiar protagonist for Sandler — a cousin to Canteen Boy and a brother to Bobby Boucher of “ The Water Boy.
” Hubie , a Halloween devotee who ’ s nevertheless easily spooked by the season ’ s decorations , has anointed himself the holiday ’ s official “ monitor ” in Salem .
Living with his mom ( Squibb , outfitted in a running gag of T-shirts ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sash slung across his chest and a thermos full of soup always in hand .
He ’ s regularly mocked by just about everyone in the town , young and old , but his old high-school torch ( Julie Bowen , comically out of his league ) is one of the few who recognize and value Hubie ’ s sweetness .
When a genuine mystery develops and people start going missing , Hubie is the first to recognize the danger .
Having made police reports a hobby , the local cops ( Kenan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ignore his concerns .
It ’ s all just an excuse for Sandler to do a funny voice and a bunch of pratfalls , but the voice is pretty funny and so are the pratfalls .
Even the production design is a cut above what you ’ re expect .
But most of all , the ensemble of townspeople lend plenty of support .
Is there anyone , really , who doesn ’ t want to watch a movie with Steve Buscemi as a werewolf , Michael Chiklis as a cranky priest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maya Rudolph dressed up as the Bride of Frankenstein playing the dissatisfied wife of Tim Meadows ?
The jokes aren ’ t often Sandler ’ s best material but “ Hubie Halloween ” is as sweet and easily digestible as a Milky Way .
After this , “ Uncut Gems ” and his best and most tender stand-up special ( “ 100 % Fresh , ” a title that references his normally low critic scores ) , the Sandler-verse is weirdly in a kind of perfect harmony .
Maybe , too , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good , stupid fun right now , and “ Hubie Halloween ” is smart enough to do stupid just right .
Steve Buscemi as a werewolf , at least , is an antidote to something .
Rating : PG-13 for crude and suggestive content , language and brief teen partying )

By Jake Coyle | Associated Press
The distance for Adam Sandler from last year’s frantic, high-wire act “Uncut Gems” to his new Netflix comedy, “Hubie Halloween,” is great, but maybe not as vast as it sounds.
Both feature Sandler playing someone who romanticizes something out of proportion (a high-priced gem in “Uncut Gems,” Halloween in “Hubie Halloween”), an appearance by a former NBA star (Kevin Garnett in “Uncut Gems,” Shaquille O’Neal in “Hubie Halloween”) and June Squibb wearing a T-shirt that says “Boner Doner.”
OK, that last one isn’t in “Uncut Gems” but you wouldn’t exactly put it past the Safdie brothers, either. Yes, Sandler’s bouncing between movie realms has seemingly grown even more schizophrenic in recent years as his factory of Netflix releases chugs along with occasional departures like “The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)” and “Uncut Gems.” But here’s the thing: “Hubie Halloween” is good.
Yeah, I’m kind of surprised by that, too. The latest Billy Madison production might not seem especially distinguishable from the rest of Sandler’s recent Netflix output. In many ways it’s not. It’s got most of his regular chums (Kevin James, Tim Meadows, Rob Schneider) and it’s directed by Steven Brill, who helmed Sandler’s “Sandy Wexler,” “The Do-Over,” “Mr. Deeds” and “Little Nicky.” These are movies made with only a little more thought than another pick-up basketball game: “Let’s run it back!”
And yet it feels like it’s been a while since it was this much fun to watch Sandler et al goofing around. Sandler, already inextricably linked to Thanksgiving, has now left a mark on Halloween. Maybe it’s because his movies can seem like (highly paid) extended vacations with friends, but holidays seem to work for him.
The destination this time is Salem, Massachusetts, where Hubie Dubois (Sandler), is a thermos-carrying stunted man-child who’s been the butt of jokes since high school, taunted for his unhipness and his good-hearted sincerity. He’s an immediately familiar protagonist for Sandler — a cousin to Canteen Boy and a brother to Bobby Boucher of “The Water Boy.” Hubie, a Halloween devotee who’s nevertheless easily spooked by the season’s decorations, has anointed himself the holiday’s official “monitor” in Salem.
Living with his mom (Squibb, outfitted in a running gag of T-shirts), Hubie bikes around town with his monitor sash slung across his chest and a thermos full of soup always in hand. He’s regularly mocked by just about everyone in the town, young and old, but his old high-school torch (Julie Bowen, comically out of his league) is one of the few who recognize and value Hubie’s sweetness. When a genuine mystery develops and people start going missing, Hubie is the first to recognize the danger. Having made police reports a hobby, the local cops (Kenan Thompson, James) have long learned to ignore his concerns.
It’s all just an excuse for Sandler to do a funny voice and a bunch of pratfalls, but the voice is pretty funny and so are the pratfalls. Even the production design is a cut above what you’re expect. But most of all, the ensemble of townspeople lend plenty of support. Is there anyone, really, who doesn’t want to watch a movie with Steve Buscemi as a werewolf, Michael Chiklis as a cranky priest, Ray Liotta for some reason and Maya Rudolph dressed up as the Bride of Frankenstein playing the dissatisfied wife of Tim Meadows?
The jokes aren’t often Sandler’s best material but “Hubie Halloween” is as sweet and easily digestible as a Milky Way. After this, “Uncut Gems” and his best and most tender stand-up special (“100% Fresh,” a title that references his normally low critic scores), the Sandler-verse is weirdly in a kind of perfect harmony. Maybe, too, we’re more in need of some good, stupid fun right now, and “Hubie Halloween” is smart enough to do stupid just right. Steve Buscemi as a werewolf, at least, is an antidote to something.
“Hubie Halloween”
3 stars out of 4
Rating: PG-13 for crude and suggestive content, language and brief teen partying)
Running time: 104 minutes


mercurynews--2020-10-09--Sponsored: Getting used to electric appliances

A Google search for “ electrification technology ” produces results featuring the work of numerous nonprofit and for-profit organizations , many of which are based in Silicon Valley .
It ’ s no surprise then , that the very electrification technology analyzed and promoted by these groups is driving innovation around efficiency and quality in electric appliances as natural gas begins a gradual exit from new-home construction .
We know that many cities such as San Jose and several others are reaching beyond the state ’ s requirements for energy efficiency in new-home construction .
Many of them are doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be all-electric , without any gas infrastructures or hookups in new homes or new-home communities .
These changes herald a mix of apprehension , gratitude , confusion and excitement among buyers , depending on whom you ask .
The chances are great that new-home buyers who have previously owned homes are accustomed to natural gas hookups for certain appliances .
Meanwhile , those whose first new home will be their first-ever new home may be excited about the quality and efficiency of today ’ s electric appliances .
Across both groups , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scratching and sticker shock over electric appliances .
The home features most likely to feel different in an all-electric community are the kitchen cooktop and oven ; the water heater ; the dryer ; the furnace ; the built-in barbecue and the good old-fashioned fireplace .
In a future article , we ’ ll explore the efficiencies and nuances of whole-house HVAC and water systems powered by electricity .
For generations , gas cooktops have been favored among master chefs and rookie chefs alike .
But today ’ s induction cooktops provide a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the wait time for a cooking temperature to change on a glass induction cooktop , these days , is reaching the speed of a gas burner .
Some induction cooktop owners say they can boil water in less than a minute .
And , although heat may come more quickly , ambient heat outside the burner space is nearly absent , meaning injury from burns is less likely .
The streamlined look of an induction cooktop is another benefit .
Also , who hasn ’ t ever boiled over a pot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electric cooktop , you ’ ll only have to clean one cooking surface , instead of multiple iron grates along with the stainless steel base of a gas cooktop .
Also in the kitchen , the electric ovens that use standard , induction or convection features are known to perform equally as well as ovens powered by natural gas .
The differences are in the upfront cost of a unit and the longevity .
Simply put , electric ovens that take advantage of the latest in electrification technology will cost more than standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in many cases , electric ovens are longer lasting and easier to repair .
As for barbecues , those who ’ ve been fantasizing about built-in and gas-plumbed bars and grills outside will have to adjust their expectations when buying new in any of the Bay Area municipalities that require all-electric construction .
Fortunately , that doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t still design hardscape for the built-in grill such as a stone or marble encasement , along with bar seating , a sink and a refrigerator , all permanently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that with new construction in a new all-electric community , the buyer would work with a hardscape company to design a stone or marble structure large enough to fit a standard propane tank for barbecuing .
Remember to plan in advance with your builder to ensure that the installed electric service for your new home has the capacity for all of the high-quality electric appliances in the home .
The upfront costs of the appliances , the upgraded electrical system and the required solar system will be included in the price of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a buyer grows accustomed to the established monthly mortgage payment and it starts feeling routine , all-electric systems and services will be efficient enough to keep monthly energy costs close to zero .

A Google search for “electrification technology” produces results featuring the work of numerous nonprofit and for-profit organizations, many of which are based in Silicon Valley.
It’s no surprise then, that the very electrification technology analyzed and promoted by these groups is driving innovation around efficiency and quality in electric appliances as natural gas begins a gradual exit from new-home construction.
We know that many cities such as San Jose and several others are reaching beyond the state’s requirements for energy efficiency in new-home construction. Many of them are doing so by requiring that all new construction be all-electric, without any gas infrastructures or hookups in new homes or new-home communities.
These changes herald a mix of apprehension, gratitude, confusion and excitement among buyers, depending on whom you ask.
The chances are great that new-home buyers who have previously owned homes are accustomed to natural gas hookups for certain appliances. Meanwhile, those whose first new home will be their first-ever new home may be excited about the quality and efficiency of today’s electric appliances.
Across both groups, there’s likely a bit of head scratching and sticker shock over electric appliances.
The home features most likely to feel different in an all-electric community are the kitchen cooktop and oven; the water heater; the dryer; the furnace; the built-in barbecue and the good old-fashioned fireplace.
In a future article, we’ll explore the efficiencies and nuances of whole-house HVAC and water systems powered by electricity.
For generations, gas cooktops have been favored among master chefs and rookie chefs alike. But today’s induction cooktops provide a number of benefits.
To begin with, the wait time for a cooking temperature to change on a glass induction cooktop, these days, is reaching the speed of a gas burner. Some induction cooktop owners say they can boil water in less than a minute. And, although heat may come more quickly, ambient heat outside the burner space is nearly absent, meaning injury from burns is less likely.
The streamlined look of an induction cooktop is another benefit. Also, who hasn’t ever boiled over a pot of rice or noodles? With an induction electric cooktop, you’ll only have to clean one cooking surface, instead of multiple iron grates along with the stainless steel base of a gas cooktop.
Also in the kitchen, the electric ovens that use standard, induction or convection features are known to perform equally as well as ovens powered by natural gas. The differences are in the upfront cost of a unit and the longevity. Simply put, electric ovens that take advantage of the latest in electrification technology will cost more than standard gas ovens. But builders explain that, in many cases, electric ovens are longer lasting and easier to repair.
As for barbecues, those who’ve been fantasizing about built-in and gas-plumbed bars and grills outside will have to adjust their expectations when buying new in any of the Bay Area municipalities that require all-electric construction.
Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you can’t still design hardscape for the built-in grill such as a stone or marble encasement, along with bar seating, a sink and a refrigerator, all permanently placed on the patio.
The difference is that with new construction in a new all-electric community, the buyer would work with a hardscape company to design a stone or marble structure large enough to fit a standard propane tank for barbecuing.
Remember to plan in advance with your builder to ensure that the installed electric service for your new home has the capacity for all of the high-quality electric appliances in the home.
The upfront costs of the appliances, the upgraded electrical system and the required solar system will be included in the price of the house. By extension, once a buyer grows accustomed to the established monthly mortgage payment and it starts feeling routine, all-electric systems and services will be efficient enough to keep monthly energy costs close to zero.


mercurynews--2020-10-09--California dairy sued over hidden video that allegedly shows abuse of cows

An animal rights organization has sued a San Jacinto dairy , alleging cows are beaten and abused , in violation of industry standards and state law .
“ Supervisors and staff use violence as a daily management tool , ” the Animal Legal Defense Fund ’ s lawsuit against the Dick Van Dam Dairy reads in part .
Cows are motivated by “ kicking them in the face and in their sensitive udders , repeatedly jabbing their faces , legs and udders with splintered wooden canes and metal pipes , twisting their tails , poking fingers in their eyes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Oct. 8 , Los Angeles attorney Stephen Larson , the lawyer for Glen Van Dam , who operates the dairy that bears his father ’ s name , “ categorically ” rejected the allegations .
“ The Van Dam family has been in the dairy business not just for generations , but reaching back to Holland for centuries , ” Larson said .
“ They care deeply about their animals .
… Their livelihood , frankly , their family relies on those cows .
For generations , they have imposed the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom they have worked.
” The dairy supplies Dairy Farmers of America , which in turn produces Alta Dena Dairy and other brands , including Target ’ s DairyPure and TruMoo .
“ While this is not a farmer-owner of Dairy Farmers of America ( DFA ) , we are committed to tirelessly advocating and championing best practices in the areas of animal care and wellness , environmental stewardship , employee training and milk safety and quality across the industry .
We do not tolerate animal abuse of any kind , ” a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reads in part .
“ Effective immediately , the farm in question is not part of our current milk supply , nor used in our products , including DairyPure and TruMoo.
” According to Dairy Farmers of America , a third-party audit is being conducted at Dick Van Dam Dairy to see if it ’ s in compliance with the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management program , which “ works with dairy farmers , the producer community and industry partners to show customers and consumers that the dairy industry is taking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment , producing safe , wholesome milk and adhering to the highest standards of workforce development.
” The Sonoma County-based Animal Legal Defense Fund filed the suit in Riverside County Superior Court on Sept. 30 , in conjunction with the Riverside-based Talkov Law Corp .
The suit was announced Thursday .
The ALDF has previously gone after dairies , zoos , pet stores and puppy mills , according to Kelsey Eberly , a senior staff attorney with the organization .
“ This lawsuit is seeking for this dairy to be shut down , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the breadth of the cruelty shown in this investigation shows no bounds.
” The lawsuit follows an undercover investigation late last year by Animal Outlook activists who allegedly found violations of state animal cruelty laws at the dairy .
Photos and videos released by the Washington , D.C.-based animal rights group show the corpses of newborn calves rotting in the pens where their mothers still lived .
Pink , blood-tainted milk is squirted into milk cans — the result , according to the group , of injured and infected cow udders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ poles .
Cows , unable to walk , are blasted with hoses , struck and walked on by workers attempting to move them , and lifted by heavy equipment .
“ This is not the first instance in which this organization has engaged in , essentially , a set-up , ” he said of Animal Outlook .
“ We want the truth to come out on this .
This is entirely inconsistent with the standards ( the Van Dam family ) has imposed , not just for years , but for generations.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down and replaced with vegan products .
“ It ’ s time for consumers to ditch dairy , ” the organization ’ s web page about the investigation reads in part , “ and for companies … to pivot to vegan products.
” Eberly didn ’ t go quite that far on Thursday afternoon .
• Former Peninsula PetSmart employee accused of fracturing dog ’ s skull pleads no contest • California marine mammal rescue centers report average year , are cheered by one rescue spotted living happy life • Burned mountain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zoo • Zoo has to separate its out-of-control swearing parrots “ We are really eager to get going with this lawsuit and hold the dairy responsible for what it just egregious cruelty , ” she said .
“ The conduct revealed in this investigation violates every principle of the dairy industry.
” The ALDF is still serving defendants named in the suit , including three members of the Van Dam family .
A hearing in the case is set for March .
In addition to filing the lawsuit , the ADLF is calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made from DFA suppliers , and demanding they investigate whether its suppliers comply with industry standards .
“ How many Dick Van Dams are in its supply chains ?
” Eberly said .

An animal rights organization has sued a San Jacinto dairy, alleging cows are beaten and abused, in violation of industry standards and state law.
“Supervisors and staff use violence as a daily management tool,” the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s lawsuit against the Dick Van Dam Dairy reads in part. Cows are motivated by “kicking them in the face and in their sensitive udders, repeatedly jabbing their faces, legs and udders with splintered wooden canes and metal pipes, twisting their tails, poking fingers in their eyes, and other painful methods.”
On Thursday, Oct. 8, Los Angeles attorney Stephen Larson, the lawyer for Glen Van Dam, who operates the dairy that bears his father’s name, “categorically” rejected the allegations.
“The Van Dam family has been in the dairy business not just for generations, but reaching back to Holland for centuries,” Larson said. “They care deeply about their animals. … Their livelihood, frankly, their family relies on those cows. For generations, they have imposed the highest standards of care for the animals with whom they have worked.”
The dairy supplies Dairy Farmers of America, which in turn produces Alta Dena Dairy and other brands, including Target’s DairyPure and TruMoo.
“While this is not a farmer-owner of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), we are committed to tirelessly advocating and championing best practices in the areas of animal care and wellness, environmental stewardship, employee training and milk safety and quality across the industry. We do not tolerate animal abuse of any kind,” a Dairy Farmers of America statement released Thursday reads in part. “Effective immediately, the farm in question is not part of our current milk supply, nor used in our products, including DairyPure and TruMoo.”
According to Dairy Farmers of America, a third-party audit is being conducted at Dick Van Dam Dairy to see if it’s in compliance with the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management program, which “works with dairy farmers, the producer community and industry partners to show customers and consumers that the dairy industry is taking the very best care of cows and the environment, producing safe, wholesome milk and adhering to the highest standards of workforce development.”
The Sonoma County-based Animal Legal Defense Fund filed the suit in Riverside County Superior Court on Sept. 30, in conjunction with the Riverside-based Talkov Law Corp. The suit was announced Thursday. The ALDF has previously gone after dairies, zoos, pet stores and puppy mills, according to Kelsey Eberly, a senior staff attorney with the organization.
“This lawsuit is seeking for this dairy to be shut down,” she said. “The depth and the breadth of the cruelty shown in this investigation shows no bounds.”
The lawsuit follows an undercover investigation late last year by Animal Outlook activists who allegedly found violations of state animal cruelty laws at the dairy.
Photos and videos released by the Washington, D.C.-based animal rights group show the corpses of newborn calves rotting in the pens where their mothers still lived. Pink, blood-tainted milk is squirted into milk cans — the result, according to the group, of injured and infected cow udders. Workers are seen striking animals with metal poles. Cows, unable to walk, are blasted with hoses, struck and walked on by workers attempting to move them, and lifted by heavy equipment.
Larson expressed skepticism about the video.
“This is not the first instance in which this organization has engaged in, essentially, a set-up,” he said of Animal Outlook. “We want the truth to come out on this. This is entirely inconsistent with the standards (the Van Dam family) has imposed, not just for years, but for generations.”
Animal Outlook explicitly wants the dairy industry shut down and replaced with vegan products.
“It’s time for consumers to ditch dairy,” the organization’s web page about the investigation reads in part, “and for companies … to pivot to vegan products.”
Eberly didn’t go quite that far on Thursday afternoon.
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Otter attacks in Sierra Nevada: Panicked swimmer scrambles onto stranger’s paddleboard Business | Colorado asked 4 states to share their gray wolves. So far, it’s received 3 maybes and a hell no. “We are really eager to get going with this lawsuit and hold the dairy responsible for what it just egregious cruelty,” she said. “The conduct revealed in this investigation violates every principle of the dairy industry.”
The ALDF is still serving defendants named in the suit, including three members of the Van Dam family. A hearing in the case is set for March.
In addition to filing the lawsuit, the ADLF is calling out Target, which sells DairyPure milk made from DFA suppliers, and demanding they investigate whether its suppliers comply with industry standards.
“How many Dick Van Dams are in its supply chains?” Eberly said.


mercurynews--2020-10-09--Razor blades placed on Trump election signs injure building inspector

Razor blades placed on the bottom of election signs cut the hands of a municipal worker who was moving them because they were in a right of way .
Deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff ’ s Office reported they were sent to a home on the 3500 block of Sleeth Road at 1 p.m. Wednesday , Oct. 7 , for a suspicious circumstances call from a Commerce Township employee .
“ The township ’ s building inspector was out removing political campaign signs from the road right of way , ” the sheriff ’ s office reported .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 33 feet from the center of the roadway .
The signs were located 24 feet from the center of the road , clearly within the right of way.
” The building inspector , 52 , cut three fingers , requiring medical attention , when he went to remove the first of two signs .
• After completing ‘ course of therapy ’ for coronavirus , Trump to resume rallies • 13 people charged with felonies in plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer • Fact-checking the vice presidential debate : What Pence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from that location had several razor blades taped all along the bottom edge , ” the sheriff ’ s office reported .
Deputies spoke to the homeowner , who said the signs had been stolen , but when they had returned from out of town , the signs were back in their yard .
Both signs were taken as evidence to be processed by an evidence technician .
The case remains under investigation .

Razor blades placed on the bottom of election signs cut the hands of a municipal worker who was moving them because they were in a right of way.
Deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office reported they were sent to a home on the 3500 block of Sleeth Road at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, for a suspicious circumstances call from a Commerce Township employee.
“The township’s building inspector was out removing political campaign signs from the road right of way,” the sheriff’s office reported. “Commerce Township ordinance requires signs to be 33 feet from the center of the roadway. The signs were located 24 feet from the center of the road, clearly within the right of way.”
Trump sign with razor blades OCSO.jpgA close up look at razor blades placed at the bottom of an election campaign sign. An investigation is ongoing after a municipal worker was cut.
The building inspector, 52, cut three fingers, requiring medical attention, when he went to remove the first of two signs.
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Giuliani: Legal quagmires have left him broke Crime and Public Safety | Letters: Escape Bay Area | CASA program | Feinstein replacement | Faulty comparison | Not conservatives “Both signs removed from that location had several razor blades taped all along the bottom edge,” the sheriff’s office reported.
Deputies spoke to the homeowner, who said the signs had been stolen, but when they had returned from out of town, the signs were back in their yard.
Both signs were taken as evidence to be processed by an evidence technician. The case remains under investigation.


mercurynews--2020-10-09--Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer says Trump should not provide hate groups “a rallying cry”

After the charges announced by both federal and state authorities Thursday about a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , she mentioned some of the president ’ s rhetoric in recent weeks and months .
Whitmer , while thanking law enforcement agencies and personnel as well as praising Michigan ’ s people and their grit , did address some of what President Donald Trump has said and not said , particularly declining to denounce hate groups , such as the Proud Boys .
Quickly , Trump ’ s campaign slammed the governor , calling her statements “ shameful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the story of the arrests and raids throughout Michigan has made national news , including landing near the top of the DrudgeReport.com in the late afternoon and at the top of the NYTimes.com and near the top of the Wall Street Journal .
Read the full statement from Michigan ’ s governor here : Good afternoon .
Earlier today , Attorney General Dana Nessel was joined by officials from the Department of Justice and the FBI to announce state and federal charges against 13 members of two militia groups who were preparing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I put my hand on the bible and took the oath of office 22 months ago , I knew this job would be hard , but I ’ ll be honest – I never could ’ ve imagined anything like this .
I want to start by saying thank you to law enforcement .
Thank you to the fearless FBI agents .
And thank you to the brave Michigan State Police troopers who participated in this operation – acting under the leadership of Col. Joe Gasper .
I also want to thank Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schneider and their teams for pursuing criminal charges that hopefully will lead to convictions , bringing these sick and depraved men to justice .
As a mom with two teenage daughters and three stepsons , my husband and I are eternally grateful to everyone who put themselves in harm ’ s way to keep our family safe .
2020 has been a hard year for all of us .
Hard for our doctors and nurses .
Truck drivers and grocery store workers .
It ’ s been hard for teachers and students and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to stay isolated to stay safe .
And it ’ s not over yet .
But here ’ s what I know : we are Michiganders .
We have grit .
We have heart .
And we are tough as hell .
We made it through the Great Recession .
We made it through auto bankruptcies .
We made it through floods and polar vortexes .
But none of us has faced a challenge like COVID-19 .
Not in our lifetimes .
I ’ ve said it many times – we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This virus is our enemy .
And this enemy is relentless .
It doesn ’ t care if you ’ re a Republican or a Democrat .
Young or old .
Rich or poor .
It doesn ’ t care if we ’ re tired of it .
It threatens us all – – our lives , our families , our jobs , our businesses , our economy .
It preys on our elderly and medically vulnerable residents .
And it has exposed deep inequities in our society .
This should be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all pull together as Americans to meet this challenge head-on – with the same might and muscle that put a man on the moon .
Seeing the humanity in one another and doing our part to help our country get through this .
Instead – our head of state has spent the past seven months denying science .
Ignoring his own health experts .
Stoking distrust and fomenting anger .
And giving comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division .
Just last week , the President of the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to condemn white supremacists and hate groups – like these two Michigan militia groups .
“ Stand back , and stand by , ” he said to them .
Hate groups heard the president ’ s words not as a rebuke , but as a rallying cry .
As a call to action .
When our leaders speak , their words matter .
They carry weight .
When our leaders meet with , encourage , or fraternize with domestic terrorists they legitimize their actions – they are complicit .
When they stoke and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complicit .
In 1981 , President Ronald Reagan spoke to the NAACP ’ s annual convention and his comments stand in sharp contrast to what we have seen on the national and state level from his own beloved party in 2020 .
He said : “ A few isolated groups in the backwater of American life still hold perverted notions of what America is all about.
” “ Recently in some places in the nation there ’ s been a disturbing reoccurrence of bigotry and violence.
” Then , Reagan sent a direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to senseless racism and religious prejudice.
” “ You are the ones who are out of step with our society , ” he said .
“ You are the ones who willfully violate the meaning of the dream that is America .
And this country , because of what it stands for , will not stand for your conduct.
” So let me say this loud and clear : hatred , bigotry , and violence have no place in the great state of Michigan .
And if you break the law , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against anyone – we will find you , we will hold you accountable , and we will bring you to justice .
For the past seven months , I ’ ve made the tough choices to keep our state safe .
These have been gut-wrenching decisions no governor has ever had to make .
And I get it : life has been hard for us all .
When I get out of bed every morning , I think about the high school seniors like my daughter who missed graduation ceremonies , or those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I think about all the moms who are working from home , making breakfast every day , logging kids into their zoom class , and doing laundry .
I think about the small business owners who spent a lifetime building something great , who are now hanging on by their fingernails just to keep the lights on .
The disruption this virus has caused to our daily lives is immeasurable .
It has already taken the lives of more than 210,000 Americans – including over 6,800 right here in Michigan .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard work and sacrifices have saved thousands of lives .
We have one of the strongest economic recoveries in the nation .
Make no mistake : there will be more hard days ahead .
But I want the people of Michigan to know this : As your governor , I will never stop doing everything in my power to keep you and your family safe .
You don ’ t have to agree with me .
But I do ask one thing : never forget that we are all in this together .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And a lot more empathy .
Give one another some grace .
And let ’ s take care of each other .
Wear your mask .
Stay six feet apart .
Wash your hands frequently .
And look out for your neighbors .
We are Michiganders .
I know we can get through this .
We will get through this .
So let ’ s get through it together .

After the charges announced by both federal and state authorities Thursday about a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, she mentioned some of the president’s rhetoric in recent weeks and months.
Whitmer, while thanking law enforcement agencies and personnel as well as praising Michigan’s people and their grit, did address some of what President Donald Trump has said and not said, particularly declining to denounce hate groups, such as the Proud Boys.
Quickly, Trump’s campaign slammed the governor, calling her statements “shameful, according to Mediaite.com.
Meanwhile, the story of the arrests and raids throughout Michigan has made national news, including landing near the top of the DrudgeReport.com in the late afternoon and at the top of the NYTimes.com and near the top of the Wall Street Journal.
drudge report on michigan gov and trump.jpgThe featured headlines at the top of the Drudge Report on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, seen in this screen shot of the popular new aggregator site as the election approaches.
Read the full statement from Michigan’s governor here:
——
Good afternoon. Earlier today, Attorney General Dana Nessel was joined by officials from the Department of Justice and the FBI to announce state and federal charges against 13 members of two militia groups who were preparing to kidnap and possibly kill me.
When I put my hand on the bible and took the oath of office 22 months ago, I knew this job would be hard, but I’ll be honest – I never could’ve imagined anything like this.
I want to start by saying thank you to law enforcement. Thank you to the fearless FBI agents. And thank you to the brave Michigan State Police troopers who participated in this operation – acting under the leadership of Col. Joe Gasper.
I also want to thank Attorney General Nessel and US Attorneys Birge and Schneider and their teams for pursuing criminal charges that hopefully will lead to convictions, bringing these sick and depraved men to justice.
13 people charged in plot to kidnap Gretchen WhitmerSix men have been charged by federal law enforcement authorities with plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at her Elk Rapids vacation home as well as attacking police, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday and unsealed Thursday in federal court.
As a mom with two teenage daughters and three stepsons, my husband and I are eternally grateful to everyone who put themselves in harm’s way to keep our family safe.
2020 has been a hard year for all of us. Hard for our doctors and nurses. Truck drivers and grocery store workers. It’s been hard for teachers and students and parents. Hard for those who have had to stay isolated to stay safe. And it’s not over yet.
But here’s what I know: we are Michiganders. We have grit. We have heart. And we are tough as hell.
We made it through the Great Recession.
We made it through auto bankruptcies.
We made it through floods and polar vortexes.
But none of us has faced a challenge like COVID-19. Not in our lifetimes.
I’ve said it many times – we are not one another’s enemy. This virus is our enemy. And this enemy is relentless. It doesn’t care if you’re a Republican or a Democrat. Young or old. Rich or poor.
It doesn’t care if we’re tired of it.
It threatens us all – – our lives, our families, our jobs, our businesses, our economy. It preys on our elderly and medically vulnerable residents. And it has exposed deep inequities in our society.
This should be a moment for national unity. Where we all pull together as Americans to meet this challenge head-on – with the same might and muscle that put a man on the moon. Seeing the humanity in one another and doing our part to help our country get through this.
mich gov on top of nytimes.jpgA screen shot of the New York Times on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, after arrests were announced alleging a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer by right-wing militia groups.
Instead – our head of state has spent the past seven months denying science. Ignoring his own health experts. Stoking distrust and fomenting anger. And giving comfort to those who spread fear and hatred and division.
Just last week, the President of the United States stood before the American people and refused to condemn white supremacists and hate groups – like these two Michigan militia groups.
“Stand back, and stand by,” he said to them.
“Stand back, and stand by.”
Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry. As a call to action.
When our leaders speak, their words matter. They carry weight.
When our leaders meet with, encourage, or fraternize with domestic terrorists they legitimize their actions – they are complicit. When they stoke and contribute to hate speech – they are complicit.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan spoke to the NAACP’s annual convention and his comments stand in sharp contrast to what we have seen on the national and state level from his own beloved party in 2020.
He said: “A few isolated groups in the backwater of American life still hold perverted notions of what America is all about.” “Recently in some places in the nation there’s been a disturbing reoccurrence of bigotry and violence.”
Then, Reagan sent a direct message to those “who still adhere to senseless racism and religious prejudice.”
“You are the ones who are out of step with our society,” he said. “You are the ones who willfully violate the meaning of the dream that is America. And this country, because of what it stands for, will not stand for your conduct.”
So let me say this loud and clear: hatred, bigotry, and violence have no place in the great state of Michigan.
drudge report on michigan gov plot.jpgA screen shot of the Drudge Report at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, with headlines about the alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
And if you break the law, or conspire to commit heinous acts of violence against anyone – we will find you, we will hold you accountable, and we will bring you to justice.
For the past seven months, I’ve made the tough choices to keep our state safe. These have been gut-wrenching decisions no governor has ever had to make.
And I get it: life has been hard for us all.
When I get out of bed every morning, I think about the high school seniors like my daughter who missed graduation ceremonies, or those Michiganders who have missed weddings and funerals. I think about all the moms who are working from home, making breakfast every day, logging kids into their zoom class, and doing laundry. I think about the small business owners who spent a lifetime building something great, who are now hanging on by their fingernails just to keep the lights on.
The disruption this virus has caused to our daily lives is immeasurable.
It has already taken the lives of more than 210,000 Americans – including over 6,800 right here in Michigan.
As painful as these losses are, our hard work and sacrifices have saved thousands of lives. We have one of the strongest economic recoveries in the nation.
Make no mistake: there will be more hard days ahead.
But I want the people of Michigan to know this: As your governor, I will never stop doing everything in my power to keep you and your family safe. You don’t have to agree with me. But I do ask one thing: never forget that we are all in this together.
Let’s show a little kindness. And a lot more empathy. Give one another some grace. And let’s take care of each other.
Wear your mask. Stay six feet apart. Wash your hands frequently. And look out for your neighbors.
We are Michiganders. I know we can get through this. We will get through this.
So let’s get through it together.


mercurynews--2020-10-09--Mistrial declared in Marin County gang murder case

The trial of a former Novato High School student charged with a grisly gang homicide ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked .
Juan Carlos Martinez Henriquez , 21 , is charged with one count of murder , one count of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated mayhem in the 2016 attack .
The trial followed extended litigation on whether Martinez Henriquez , who was still a minor when the slaying occurred , could be prosecuted as an adult .
A judge ruled he could .
The defense asserted that Martinez Henriquez ran away before the homicide happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jury was unable to reach a verdict and we look forward to presenting this case before a different jury , ” said Deputy Public Defender Tamara York , who is representing the suspect with Deputy Public Defender Pedro Oliveros .
District Attorney Lori Frugoli declined to release the jury ’ s vote count but said , “ We are confident in our decision to retry the case.
” “ We thank those who appeared for jury service and the commitment of those who diligently served as jurors during COVID-19 , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this very serious case in the near future.
” A second defendant , Edenilson Misael Alfaro , an alleged leader in the MS-13 gang , is still awaiting trial .
MS-13 is a Latin American organization notorious for murder , torture and dismemberment .
The crimes occurred in May 2016 at the waterfall near the end of Fairway Drive in Novato .
Martinez Henriquez and the two victims were all students at Novato High School .
The prosecution alleges the defendants killed Edwin Guerra , 17 , in a gang-related ambush .
Guerra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he still had a slight pulse when police reached him , the prosecution said .
The second victim , also 17 , was shot in the head and stabbed repeatedly .
He said he feigned death until he could escape .
The trial started in early September and ended with the mistrial on Wednesday .
Dozens of prosecution and defense witnesses testified , including the surviving victim .
Six other suspects were charged in the case .
Three have pleaded guilty to being accessories .
Another had his charges dismissed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gang recruitment felony .
The remaining two are fugitives .
Alfaro , 26 , could face the death penalty .
Martinez Henriquez could face the lesser sentence of 25 years in prison because of his age when the crimes happened .
Alfaro also has homicide cases pending in Washington state and Maryland , along with a separate Marin County charge of trying to arrange the murder of an accomplice who cooperated with investigators .

The trial of a former Novato High School student charged with a grisly gang homicide ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked.
Juan Carlos Martinez Henriquez, 21, is charged with one count of murder, one count of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated mayhem in the 2016 attack.
The trial followed extended litigation on whether Martinez Henriquez, who was still a minor when the slaying occurred, could be prosecuted as an adult. A judge ruled he could.
The defense asserted that Martinez Henriquez ran away before the homicide happened.
“We are disappointed that the jury was unable to reach a verdict and we look forward to presenting this case before a different jury,” said Deputy Public Defender Tamara York, who is representing the suspect with Deputy Public Defender Pedro Oliveros.
District Attorney Lori Frugoli declined to release the jury’s vote count but said, “We are confident in our decision to retry the case.”
“We thank those who appeared for jury service and the commitment of those who diligently served as jurors during COVID-19,” she said. “We are prepared to retry this very serious case in the near future.”
A second defendant, Edenilson Misael Alfaro, an alleged leader in the MS-13 gang, is still awaiting trial. MS-13 is a Latin American organization notorious for murder, torture and dismemberment.
The crimes occurred in May 2016 at the waterfall near the end of Fairway Drive in Novato. Martinez Henriquez and the two victims were all students at Novato High School.
The prosecution alleges the defendants killed Edwin Guerra, 17, in a gang-related ambush. Guerra was hacked with a machete and shot, and he still had a slight pulse when police reached him, the prosecution said.
The second victim, also 17, was shot in the head and stabbed repeatedly. He said he feigned death until he could escape.
The trial started in early September and ended with the mistrial on Wednesday. Dozens of prosecution and defense witnesses testified, including the surviving victim.
Six other suspects were charged in the case. Three have pleaded guilty to being accessories. Another had his charges dismissed for insufficient evidence but pleaded guilty to a gang recruitment felony. The remaining two are fugitives.
Alfaro, 26, could face the death penalty. Martinez Henriquez could face the lesser sentence of 25 years in prison because of his age when the crimes happened.
Alfaro also has homicide cases pending in Washington state and Maryland, along with a separate Marin County charge of trying to arrange the murder of an accomplice who cooperated with investigators.


mercurynews--2020-10-09--Whole Foods left behind in Amazon’s pandemic-fueled boom

With millions of Americans still sheltering in place and cooking their own meals , the grocery industry has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise battered U.S. economy .
Unless , that is , you are Whole Foods Market , the upscale chain acquired three years ago by Amazon.com Inc .
Trips to Whole Foods in September were down 25 % from a year earlier , according to Placer.ai , which tallies retail foot traffic from some 30 million mobile devices .
Some of the decline is due to consumers consolidating shopping trips and buying more groceries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whole Foods is much steeper than at Walmart , Kroger and Trader Joe ’ s .
Visits to Albertsons , meanwhile , actually increased last month , compared with a year ago .
And though Earnest Research estimates that Whole Foods sales ( including online ) rose by as much as 10 % during the pandemic , some rivals are posting twice the gains .
“ Everyone is buying more everywhere , but total customers are actually down for Whole Foods , ” Michael Maloof , who tracks consumer habits for Earnest Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Whole Foods is in a uniquely horrible place.
” Amazon doesn ’ t break out Whole Foods sales , so getting a complete picture of the chain ’ s travails is difficult .
But few grocers were more awkwardly positioned for the pandemic , analysts say .
The stores were rarely a one-stop destination before the outbreak even for fans .
The company expanded its prepared meals sections for office workers seeking lunch or dinner on the go , but now those customers are homebound .
And Whole Foods shoppers who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines and aisles crowded with gig workers paid to fetch online orders .
Meanwhile , despite expectations that the world ’ s largest e-commerce company would use Whole Foods to re-invent food shopping , Amazon has opted to open a separate chain called Amazon Fresh .
The first opened recently in Woodland Hills , a suburb of Los Angeles , with several more are on tap in Southern California .
Some analysts have even soured on Amazon ’ s $ 13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods .
Bill Bishop , a longtime grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm Brick meets Click , says the deal was probably well-thought-out at the time but in retrospect was a “ strategic error.
” In an emailed statement , a Whole Foods spokeswoman said : “ Whole Foods Market continues to grow , and we strongly dispute this portrayal of the health of our business .
In addition to offering a safe in-store shopping experience , we ’ re proud we ’ ve been able to rapidly expand grocery delivery and pickup to meet the needs of customers.
” Presented with the data points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t specify which , if any , were inaccurate reflections of the grocer ’ s business .
The spokeswoman also declined to discuss the company ’ s sales performance .
Chief Executive Officer John Mackey has said in recent interviews that sales of meats and other categories surged during the pandemic on buying from shoppers cooking at home .
Co-founded in 1980 by Mackey in Austin , Texas , Whole Foods helped fuel the organic food movement .
By stocking products shoppers couldn ’ t get anywhere else and setting high-quality standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was able to command prices other retailers couldn ’ t—earning it the epithet “ Whole Paycheck.
” The grocer shied away from a cookie-cutter approach to new stores , instilling a quirky , down-home vibe even as it grew to hundreds of locations through expansion and acquisitions .
But after rising interest in healthier food led mainstream grocers to stock organic items , Whole Foods struggled to keep its growth going .
By the time Amazon stepped in , sales growth and profitability were in decline , and an activist investor was pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly .
Continuing a tradition as old as supermarkets , Amazon touted price cuts on staples to get new shoppers in the door .
It promoted Amazon electronics inside Whole Foods and placed online delivery lockers in dozens of stores .
Amazon Prime became the Whole Foods ’ loyalty program .
At the same time , executives at both companies preached a hands-off approach to integration .
Responsibility for the chain in Seattle fell to physical retail czar Steve Kessel , and , after he stepped down , to logistics chief Dave Clark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputies to work with Mackey , kept in touch with monthly and quarterly video call meetings patterned after Amazon ’ s corporate practice that prioritizes data over gut feelings or emotional appeals .
A clear priority from Seattle from the beginning was online ordering , a push that only accelerated when the pandemic sparked an unprecedented spike in web grocery orders .
At busy locations during peak shopping hours , the crush of contract shoppers and regular customers can cause traffic jams .
Whole Foods has tweaked store hours in some markets—and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room for online delivery , but crowding has become a frequent complaint of customers , one that has only grown louder as the pandemic limited store capacity .
In at least one Whole Foods store in the San Francisco Bay Area , online sales now regularly exceed in-store purchases , according to a person familiar with the figures .
Phoenix Normand , who picked the building where he lives in Los Angeles in part because it ’ s near a Whole Foods store , says he now finds himself trying to shop earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the entrance that he attributes to the presence of Prime shoppers grabbing online orders .
“ I don ’ t know if Amazon ’ s move is to push people to do more [ online ] shopping versus being in the store , ” he says .
“ It would be nice if they would let us know that .
Don ’ t get me wrong , I like to pick my own produce , but if I have to fight with eight people over a fricking avocado , maybe I should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me.
” Whole Foods last month opened a warehouse-like facility in Brooklyn designed to fulfill online orders .
The company has considered other “ dark ” stores to reduce pressure on crowded locations , but focused instead on opening the New York one first , according to a person familiar with the discussions but not authorized to talk about them .
“ The Prime shoppers certainly changed the experience at Whole Foods , ” says a former senior Whole Foods manager , who requested anonymity because of confidentiality agreements .
“ They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foods shopper .
They ’ re about speed , efficiency .
If you ’ re not selling that same experience , you shouldn ’ t expect those margins.
” Even before Amazon bought Whole Foods , the chain began centralizing decision-making over everything from what to stock to the signage over the bakery department .
That eroded the sway of regional managers who had helped the chain build a reputation for launching small brands you couldn ’ t find elsewhere .
Some shoppers complain that it ’ s harder to find distinctive products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contention Whole Foods disputes .
“ Whole Foods seems to be going downhill very quickly , ” says Danielle Harnisch , a 65-year-old retiree who has done most of her shopping at the Petaluma , California , store for years .
She ’ s turned off by stubbornly high prices , and a decline in selection that seems to have grown more acute during the pandemic .
Now , she ’ s making more trips to Trader Joe ’ s and two locally owned markets .
A Whole Foods spokesperson says the store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more locally sourced products than in 2016 , the year before Amazon bought the chain .
Numerator , a research firm , estimates that 4.5 million fewer U.S. households have shopped inside a Whole Foods since the beginning of March , compared with a year earlier .
The research firm says the chain is losing former devotees like Harnisch , and replacing some of them with a younger , more urban cohort of shoppers , many of whom are already plugged into Prime , Amazon ’ s membership program , but are typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gleaned from customer receipts and surveys , suggest Amazon ’ s online push has gained traction , with roughly a third of U.S. households buying groceries digitally at some point since the beginning of March , up 10 percentage points from a year ago .
It ’ s unclear how many of them can be persuaded to stick around after the pandemic ends , or be converted to in-store Whole Foods shoppers , who tend to make bigger purchases .
The former Whole Foods senior manager sees the writing on the wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon Fresh chain .
The new chain , which tapped Whole Foods expertise , emphasizes in-store pickup from a dedicated counter and stocks national consumer brands like Coca-Cola that have long been verboten at Whole Foods .
The former manager says most people thought Whole Foods and Amazon would revolutionize the supermarket industry .
Now he says , “ I think [ it will be ] Amazon Fresh stores.
” • The 50 richest Americans are worth as much as the poorest 165 million • U.S. lawmakers detail Big Tech ’ s market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon says 19,000 workers got COVID-19 this year • Amazon to kick off holiday shopping with October Prime Day • Employees of Big Four tech companies show lopsided support for Biden/Harris campaign

By Matt Day | Bloomberg
With millions of Americans still sheltering in place and cooking their own meals, the grocery industry has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise battered U.S. economy. Unless, that is, you are Whole Foods Market, the upscale chain acquired three years ago by Amazon.com Inc.
Trips to Whole Foods in September were down 25% from a year earlier, according to Placer.ai, which tallies retail foot traffic from some 30 million mobile devices. Some of the decline is due to consumers consolidating shopping trips and buying more groceries online, but the traffic decline at Whole Foods is much steeper than at Walmart, Kroger and Trader Joe’s.
Visits to Albertsons, meanwhile, actually increased last month, compared with a year ago. And though Earnest Research estimates that Whole Foods sales (including online) rose by as much as 10% during the pandemic, some rivals are posting twice the gains.
“Everyone is buying more everywhere, but total customers are actually down for Whole Foods,” Michael Maloof, who tracks consumer habits for Earnest Research, said in a telephone interview. “Whole Foods is in a uniquely horrible place.”
Amazon doesn’t break out Whole Foods sales, so getting a complete picture of the chain’s travails is difficult. But few grocers were more awkwardly positioned for the pandemic, analysts say. The stores were rarely a one-stop destination before the outbreak even for fans. The company expanded its prepared meals sections for office workers seeking lunch or dinner on the go, but now those customers are homebound. And Whole Foods shoppers who have time to visit stores often confront long lines and aisles crowded with gig workers paid to fetch online orders.
Meanwhile, despite expectations that the world’s largest e-commerce company would use Whole Foods to re-invent food shopping, Amazon has opted to open a separate chain called Amazon Fresh. The first opened recently in Woodland Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles, with several more are on tap in Southern California.
Some analysts have even soured on Amazon’s $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods. Bill Bishop, a longtime grocery industry consultant and founder of the consulting firm Brick meets Click, says the deal was probably well-thought-out at the time but in retrospect was a “strategic error.”
In an emailed statement, a Whole Foods spokeswoman said: “Whole Foods Market continues to grow, and we strongly dispute this portrayal of the health of our business. In addition to offering a safe in-store shopping experience, we’re proud we’ve been able to rapidly expand grocery delivery and pickup to meet the needs of customers.”
Presented with the data points used in this story, she didn’t specify which, if any, were inaccurate reflections of the grocer’s business. The spokeswoman also declined to discuss the company’s sales performance.
Chief Executive Officer John Mackey has said in recent interviews that sales of meats and other categories surged during the pandemic on buying from shoppers cooking at home.
Co-founded in 1980 by Mackey in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods helped fuel the organic food movement. By stocking products shoppers couldn’t get anywhere else and setting high-quality standards, the chain drew loyal fans and was able to command prices other retailers couldn’t—earning it the epithet “Whole Paycheck.” The grocer shied away from a cookie-cutter approach to new stores, instilling a quirky, down-home vibe even as it grew to hundreds of locations through expansion and acquisitions.
(One former employee likens Whole Foods to “a big old cuddly nonprofit that accidentally became a corporation.”)
But after rising interest in healthier food led mainstream grocers to stock organic items, Whole Foods struggled to keep its growth going. By the time Amazon stepped in, sales growth and profitability were in decline, and an activist investor was pushing for changes.
Cosmetically, change came quickly. Continuing a tradition as old as supermarkets, Amazon touted price cuts on staples to get new shoppers in the door. It promoted Amazon electronics inside Whole Foods and placed online delivery lockers in dozens of stores. Amazon Prime became the Whole Foods’ loyalty program.
At the same time, executives at both companies preached a hands-off approach to integration. Responsibility for the chain in Seattle fell to physical retail czar Steve Kessel, and, after he stepped down, to logistics chief Dave Clark. The executives, who also sent deputies to work with Mackey, kept in touch with monthly and quarterly video call meetings patterned after Amazon’s corporate practice that prioritizes data over gut feelings or emotional appeals.
A clear priority from Seattle from the beginning was online ordering, a push that only accelerated when the pandemic sparked an unprecedented spike in web grocery orders. At busy locations during peak shopping hours, the crush of contract shoppers and regular customers can cause traffic jams.
Whole Foods has tweaked store hours in some markets—and even temporarily shut down some locations—to make more room for online delivery, but crowding has become a frequent complaint of customers, one that has only grown louder as the pandemic limited store capacity.
In at least one Whole Foods store in the San Francisco Bay Area, online sales now regularly exceed in-store purchases, according to a person familiar with the figures.
Phoenix Normand, who picked the building where he lives in Los Angeles in part because it’s near a Whole Foods store, says he now finds himself trying to shop earlier in the day to avoid long lines at the entrance that he attributes to the presence of Prime shoppers grabbing online orders.
“I don’t know if Amazon’s move is to push people to do more [online] shopping versus being in the store,” he says. “It would be nice if they would let us know that. Don’t get me wrong, I like to pick my own produce, but if I have to fight with eight people over a fricking avocado, maybe I should be hiring someone to do it for me.”
Whole Foods last month opened a warehouse-like facility in Brooklyn designed to fulfill online orders. The company has considered other “dark” stores to reduce pressure on crowded locations, but focused instead on opening the New York one first, according to a person familiar with the discussions but not authorized to talk about them.
“The Prime shoppers certainly changed the experience at Whole Foods,” says a former senior Whole Foods manager, who requested anonymity because of confidentiality agreements. “They’re the exact opposite of a Whole Foods shopper. They’re about speed, efficiency. If you’re not selling that same experience, you shouldn’t expect those margins.”
Even before Amazon bought Whole Foods, the chain began centralizing decision-making over everything from what to stock to the signage over the bakery department. That eroded the sway of regional managers who had helped the chain build a reputation for launching small brands you couldn’t find elsewhere. Some shoppers complain that it’s harder to find distinctive products on the shelves these days, a contention Whole Foods disputes.
“Whole Foods seems to be going downhill very quickly,” says Danielle Harnisch, a 65-year-old retiree who has done most of her shopping at the Petaluma, California, store for years. She’s turned off by stubbornly high prices, and a decline in selection that seems to have grown more acute during the pandemic. Now, she’s making more trips to Trader Joe’s and two locally owned markets.
A Whole Foods spokesperson says the store’s selection today includes 30% more locally sourced products than in 2016, the year before Amazon bought the chain.
Numerator, a research firm, estimates that 4.5 million fewer U.S. households have shopped inside a Whole Foods since the beginning of March, compared with a year earlier. The research firm says the chain is losing former devotees like Harnisch, and replacing some of them with a younger, more urban cohort of shoppers, many of whom are already plugged into Prime, Amazon’s membership program, but are typically less wealthy.
Numerator’s data, gleaned from customer receipts and surveys, suggest Amazon’s online push has gained traction, with roughly a third of U.S. households buying groceries digitally at some point since the beginning of March, up 10 percentage points from a year ago. It’s unclear how many of them can be persuaded to stick around after the pandemic ends, or be converted to in-store Whole Foods shoppers, who tend to make bigger purchases.


mercurynews--2020-10-09--Photos: Eddie Van Halen’s childhood landmarks have become memorials for Pasadena’s guitar god

The childhood haunts of Pasadena ’ s local guitar god , Eddie Van Halen , have been transformed into memorial sites by legions of fans who have come to the Crown City to pay their respects to one of the world ’ s foremost guitar virtuosos after his death on Tuesday , Oct. 6 .
Although he was born in the Netherlands , Eddie Van Halen moved to Pasadena when he was 7 years old , living a few blocks north of the 210 freeway .
Folks have been coming out to his childhood home — which is no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guitarist — leaving flowers , candles , empty beer cans and liquor bottles , as well as dozens of drawings and heartfelt expressions written in chalk .
A few blocks away , Van Halen reportedly carved his name in wet concrete outside of a liquor store as a teenager .
Years later , it ’ s still in the concrete and now it ’ s become an attraction for fans since his passing .
One person even left a Fender guitar poised on the sidewalk .
• This is ‘ The Real Housewives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elizabeth Lyn Vargas • Nicole Kidman recalls the time when she and Tom Cruise were happy The ornaments started appearing early in the week and have only grown with each passing day .
Some left messages with the lyrics to Van Halen ’ s own songs ; others simply thanked the guitarist for his music .
Van Halen attended Hamilton Elementary School , then later Pasadena High School , according to a 2012 interview .
Before the band was called “ Van Halen , ” it was “ Mammoth , ” writes columnist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who attended parties with the band long before they were famous .
Van Halen had been battling cancer for years before he passed away on Tuesday in Santa Monica surrounded by his family at the age of 65 .

The childhood haunts of Pasadena’s local guitar god, Eddie Van Halen, have been transformed into memorial sites by legions of fans who have come to the Crown City to pay their respects to one of the world’s foremost guitar virtuosos after his death on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Although he was born in the Netherlands, Eddie Van Halen moved to Pasadena when he was 7 years old, living a few blocks north of the 210 freeway.
Folks have been coming out to his childhood home — which is no longer owned by anyone related to the late guitarist — leaving flowers, candles, empty beer cans and liquor bottles, as well as dozens of drawings and heartfelt expressions written in chalk.
A few blocks away, Van Halen reportedly carved his name in wet concrete outside of a liquor store as a teenager. Years later, it’s still in the concrete and now it’s become an attraction for fans since his passing.
One person even left a Fender guitar poised on the sidewalk.
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Sandra Bullock’s ‘The Blind Side’ long criticized for its ‘White savior’ view of a Black athlete Music | Paris Hilton enjoys beach and resort in Maui, as Lahaina residents reel from disaster The ornaments started appearing early in the week and have only grown with each passing day. Some left messages with the lyrics to Van Halen’s own songs; others simply thanked the guitarist for his music.
Van Halen attended Hamilton Elementary School, then later Pasadena High School, according to a 2012 interview.
Before the band was called “Van Halen,” it was “Mammoth,” writes columnist Larry Wilson, a life-long Pasadena resident who attended parties with the band long before they were famous.
Van Halen had been battling cancer for years before he passed away on Tuesday in Santa Monica surrounded by his family at the age of 65.