mercurynews--2020-08-06--Commission rejects Trump call for additional debate

WASHINGTON — The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has rejected a request from the Trump campaign to either add an additional general election debate or move up the calendar for the contests .
In a letter to Trump private attorney Rudy Giuliani , his liaison to the commission , the commission writes that it is committed to its existing schedule of three debates between Trump and his Democratic challenger , Joe Biden , saying it would consider adding a fourth debate only if both sides agree to it .
Both major party nominees have agreed to participate in the three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If the candidates were to agree that they wished to add to that schedule , the Commission would consider that request but remains committed to the schedule of debates it has planned as reflected in the attached release , ” the commission wrote in a letter obtained by The Associated Press .
Giuliani wrote to the debate commission Wednesday requesting that the schedule be moved up on account of expanded early and mail voting because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump ’ s campaign has highlighted that 16 states will have started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled debate on Sept. 29 .
“ There is a difference between ballots having been issued by a state and those ballots having been cast by voters , who are under no compulsion to return their ballots before the debates , ” the commission responded .
“ While more people will likely vote by mail in 2020 , the debate schedule has been and will be highly publicized , ” the commission said .
“ Any voter who wishes to watch one or more debates before voting will be well aware of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement that Biden would appear at the scheduled debates .
“ As we have said for months , the commission will determine the dates and times of the debates , and Joe Biden will be there , ” he said .
“ Now that Donald Trump ’ s transparent attempt to distract from his disastrous response to the virus is over , maybe now he can focus on saving American lives and getting our economy back on track.
” Giuliani , in his note , supplied a list of suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote that it will “ adhere to our longstanding procedure of selecting the debate moderators .
It will do so with great care , as always , to ensure that the selected moderators are qualified and fair .
”

By Zeke Miller | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has rejected a request from the Trump campaign to either add an additional general election debate or move up the calendar for the contests.
In a letter to Trump private attorney Rudy Giuliani, his liaison to the commission, the commission writes that it is committed to its existing schedule of three debates between Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, saying it would consider adding a fourth debate only if both sides agree to it. Both major party nominees have agreed to participate in the three scheduled debates, the commission said.
“If the candidates were to agree that they wished to add to that schedule, the Commission would consider that request but remains committed to the schedule of debates it has planned as reflected in the attached release,” the commission wrote in a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
Giuliani wrote to the debate commission Wednesday requesting that the schedule be moved up on account of expanded early and mail voting because of the coronavirus pandemic. Trump’s campaign has highlighted that 16 states will have started voted by the time of the first scheduled debate on Sept. 29.
“There is a difference between ballots having been issued by a state and those ballots having been cast by voters, who are under no compulsion to return their ballots before the debates,” the commission responded.
“While more people will likely vote by mail in 2020, the debate schedule has been and will be highly publicized,” the commission said. “Any voter who wishes to watch one or more debates before voting will be well aware of that opportunity.”
Biden campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo said in a statement that Biden would appear at the scheduled debates. “As we have said for months, the commission will determine the dates and times of the debates, and Joe Biden will be there,” he said. “Now that Donald Trump’s transparent attempt to distract from his disastrous response to the virus is over, maybe now he can focus on saving American lives and getting our economy back on track.”
Giuliani, in his note, supplied a list of suggested moderators for the debates. The commission wrote that it will “adhere to our longstanding procedure of selecting the debate moderators. It will do so with great care, as always, to ensure that the selected moderators are qualified and fair.”


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Review: Mark Rylance shines in otherwise plodding ‘Barbarians’

Watching Mark Rylance play a man of basic decency getting swallowed up by an evil world — and a sadistic Johnny Depp — in “ Waiting for the Barbarians , ” I absent-mindedly jotted down in my notes : “ Nobody does basic decency like Mark Rylance.
” Then I remembered : Nobody quite does INdecency like Rylance , either .
Watch him play a villain , a creep , or maybe a scheming Shakespearean king , and you ’ ll be chilled to the bone .
Comedy or tragedy , prose or verse , stage or screen : This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t strike a false note if he tried .
And if he seems perfectly cast as the purposely nondescript Magistrate in “ Barbarians , ” a visually striking but frustratingly slow-moving film based on the award-winning novel by J.M .
Coetzee , it ’ s perhaps because , well , he ’ s well cast in pretty much everything he does .
And it ’ s no easy task , playing a nameless man , neither hero nor villain , serving a nameless Empire in a nameless time in the border region of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tricky precisely because , as you may have guessed , there ’ s so much that ’ s necessarily left unspecified in this adaptation from Colombian director Ciro Guerra , with a screenplay by the Nobel-winning South African author himself .
Coetzee ’ s allegorical novel reflects on themes of power , war , torture , the evils of colonialism and the need humans have to demonize others in order to subjugate them .
It ’ s also about “ otherizing ” the foreigner , in order to more efficiently hate .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .
Guerra himself says the story , which at first seemed from another time , “ somehow morphed into a story about our present age.
” A novel like Coetzee ’ s invites readers to fill in the blank spaces .
On a screen , we tend to crave more specificity .
The result , coupled with a too-languorous pace , is a film that ’ s intermittently engrossing and always interesting , but less potent than it could have been .
“ Barbarians , ” is told in four chapters : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We begin in summer , with an arresting tableau of a desert landscape , snow-capped mountains far in the distance .
( The movie was filmed in Morocco and Italy . )
The Magistrate , a loyal employee of the colonizing Empire who governs with an easy hand , is heading toward retirement when suddenly Colonel Joll ( Depp ) turns up .
The Colonel has heard there ’ s trouble brewing among the nomads who dwell along the border .
At first , Depp sounds , in tone and inflection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Bowie impersonation .
His vibe is menacing and a little hip , too , with white gloves and those dark round glasses telegraphing Hollywood .
“ They protect one ’ s eyes against the glare of the sun , ” he explains to the bewildered Magistrate , and somehow it sounds very nefarious .
The Magistrate tells him there ’ s never been trouble in these parts — “ once in every generation there is an explosion of hysteria about the barbarians , ” he says , but it never amounts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a fool-proof interrogation method .
“ Pain is truth , ” he explains .
“ All else is subject to doubt.
” The results of his method — “ first lies , then pressure , more lies , more pressure ” — will become immediately clear when a sick boy and his elderly uncle , who came to town seeking medicine , are accused of stealing sheep .
After their interrogation , one is dead , and the other has confessed to a barbarian plot .
And so it goes , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , both to his job and his vaguely moral grounding .
In Winter , “ the girl ” is introduced — a nomad girl who ’ s been maimed by interrogators , and for whom the Magistrate develops strong feelings .
( She ’ s affectingly played by Mongolian actress Gana Bayarsaikhan , in her first major film role . )
Late in the film , Robert Pattinson arrives as Mandel , another nasty officer ; the charismatic actor injects some needed energy into the proceedings .
He has some good scenes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fittingly go to Rylance , including these , which somehow stick in the mind : “ We have no enemy that I know of .
Unless we ourselves are the enemy .
”

By Jocelyn Noveck | Associated Press
Watching Mark Rylance play a man of basic decency getting swallowed up by an evil world — and a sadistic Johnny Depp — in “Waiting for the Barbarians,” I absent-mindedly jotted down in my notes: “Nobody does basic decency like Mark Rylance.”
Then I remembered: Nobody quite does INdecency like Rylance, either. Watch him play a villain, a creep, or maybe a scheming Shakespearean king, and you’ll be chilled to the bone.
Comedy or tragedy, prose or verse, stage or screen: This is simply an actor who couldn’t strike a false note if he tried. And if he seems perfectly cast as the purposely nondescript Magistrate in “Barbarians,” a visually striking but frustratingly slow-moving film based on the award-winning novel by J.M. Coetzee, it’s perhaps because, well, he’s well cast in pretty much everything he does.
And it’s no easy task, playing a nameless man, neither hero nor villain, serving a nameless Empire in a nameless time in the border region of a nameless land. It’s tricky precisely because, as you may have guessed, there’s so much that’s necessarily left unspecified in this adaptation from Colombian director Ciro Guerra, with a screenplay by the Nobel-winning South African author himself.
Coetzee’s allegorical novel reflects on themes of power, war, torture, the evils of colonialism and the need humans have to demonize others in order to subjugate them. It’s also about “otherizing” the foreigner, in order to more efficiently hate. Many have pointed out parallels to our modern world. Guerra himself says the story, which at first seemed from another time, “somehow morphed into a story about our present age.”
A novel like Coetzee’s invites readers to fill in the blank spaces. On a screen, we tend to crave more specificity. The result, coupled with a too-languorous pace, is a film that’s intermittently engrossing and always interesting, but less potent than it could have been.
“Barbarians,” is told in four chapters: Summer, Winter, Spring and Autumn. We begin in summer, with an arresting tableau of a desert landscape, snow-capped mountains far in the distance. (The movie was filmed in Morocco and Italy.)
The Magistrate, a loyal employee of the colonizing Empire who governs with an easy hand, is heading toward retirement when suddenly Colonel Joll (Depp) turns up. The Colonel has heard there’s trouble brewing among the nomads who dwell along the border.
At first, Depp sounds, in tone and inflection, like he’s efforting his best David Bowie impersonation. His vibe is menacing and a little hip, too, with white gloves and those dark round glasses telegraphing Hollywood. “They protect one’s eyes against the glare of the sun,” he explains to the bewildered Magistrate, and somehow it sounds very nefarious.
The Magistrate tells him there’s never been trouble in these parts — “once in every generation there is an explosion of hysteria about the barbarians,” he says, but it never amounts to anything.
The Colonel, though, has a fool-proof interrogation method. “Pain is truth,” he explains. “All else is subject to doubt.” The results of his method — “first lies, then pressure, more lies, more pressure” — will become immediately clear when a sick boy and his elderly uncle, who came to town seeking medicine, are accused of stealing sheep. After their interrogation, one is dead, and the other has confessed to a barbarian plot.
And so it goes, with the Magistrate trying desperately to hold on, both to his job and his vaguely moral grounding. In Winter, “the girl” is introduced — a nomad girl who’s been maimed by interrogators, and for whom the Magistrate develops strong feelings. (She’s affectingly played by Mongolian actress Gana Bayarsaikhan, in her first major film role.)
Late in the film, Robert Pattinson arrives as Mandel, another nasty officer; the charismatic actor injects some needed energy into the proceedings. He has some good scenes, but the best words throughout the movie fittingly go to Rylance, including these, which somehow stick in the mind:
“We have no enemy that I know of. Unless we ourselves are the enemy.”
“Waiting for the Barbarians”
2 1/2 stars out of 4
Unrated
Running time: 112 minutes


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Editorial: More rent control won’t solve California housing crisis

The basic principles of economics haven ’ t changed in two years .
That ’ s when 59 % of California voters wisely rejected a measure that would have allowed cities to impose tougher local rent control restrictions .
Since then , the Legislature and Gov .
Gavin Newsom have nevertheless approved legislation imposing rent control statewide , albeit a more-tempered version .
Now rent control advocates have gone back to the ballot to try once again to enable tougher local standards .
Throughout all this , however , the economic fundamentals remain the same : High rents in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing supply .
We simply haven ’ t built homes fast enough to keep up with population growth .
As a result , more people are competing for limited numbers of dwellings .
But the tougher the rent restrictions in the state , the less likely developers will construct desperately needed units .
Rent control will only make the housing shortage worse .
Which is why voters should reject Proposition 21 on the Nov. 3 ballot .
Rent control is a feel-good idea .
A quick fix to a complicated problem .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor or vulnerable tenants .
In the short run , rent control helps those who live in rent-controlled units .
But in the long-run it drives up the overall cost of rental housing because it exacerbates the short supply .
Lest there be any doubt that supply and demand are the key drivers of rental housing costs , consider the price drop we ’ ve witnessed in much of the Bay Area during the pandemic .
Supply has swelled as owners of short-term vacation and corporate housing units are now listing those units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slackened as more people realize that working from home allows them to move to cheaper , distant locations .
But when life returns to normal , so too will rising rents — unless we encourage more construction rather expanding price controls .
California currently has two sets of rent control laws .
A new state law limits rent increases for most rental housing in California to no more than 5 percent plus inflation each year , or 10 % , whichever is lower .
The new law , which lasts until 2030 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 15 years old .
In addition , 21 cities , including nine in the Bay Area , and the county of Los Angeles currently have local limits .
Under the state ’ s Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act , local governments can only apply rent controls to multi-unit apartment buildings constructed before Feb. 1 , 1995 .
And they must allow landlords of those older buildings to reset rents to market rates for new tenants .
Proposition 21 would change Costa-Hawkins by allowing cities and counties to implement tougher local rent control rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on most housing that is more than 15 years old .
Cities could also apply the rules to single-family houses if they ’ re not owned by people with two or fewer properties .
And the local rules could block landlords ’ ability to reset rent to market rates for new tenants , instead limiting increases to up to 15 % during the first three years after a new renter moves in .
This provision is especially problematic because it punishes landlords who , for prior tenants , have tried to keep their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 might be , it ’ s counterproductive .
Most economists agree that rent control reduces the quality and quantity of housing .
“ The analysis of rent control is among the best-understood issues in all of economics and — among economists , anyway — one of the least controversial , ” liberal economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman wrote in 2000 .
The principles of economics haven ’ t changed since then .
Voters understood that in 2018 .
Now they have to weigh in again .
Vote no on @ @ @ @

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The basic principles of economics haven’t changed in two years.
That’s when 59% of California voters wisely rejected a measure that would have allowed cities to impose tougher local rent control restrictions.
Since then, the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom have nevertheless approved legislation imposing rent control statewide, albeit a more-tempered version. Now rent control advocates have gone back to the ballot to try once again to enable tougher local standards.
Throughout all this, however, the economic fundamentals remain the same: High rents in California are due to a shortage in the housing supply. We simply haven’t built homes fast enough to keep up with population growth. As a result, more people are competing for limited numbers of dwellings.
But the tougher the rent restrictions in the state, the less likely developers will construct desperately needed units. Rent control will only make the housing shortage worse. Which is why voters should reject Proposition 21 on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Rent control is a feel-good idea. A quick fix to a complicated problem. But it is not very effective at protecting poor or vulnerable tenants. In the short run, rent control helps those who live in rent-controlled units. But in the long-run it drives up the overall cost of rental housing because it exacerbates the short supply.
Lest there be any doubt that supply and demand are the key drivers of rental housing costs, consider the price drop we’ve witnessed in much of the Bay Area during the pandemic. Supply has swelled as owners of short-term vacation and corporate housing units are now listing those units as long-term rentals. And demand has slackened as more people realize that working from home allows them to move to cheaper, distant locations.
But when life returns to normal, so too will rising rents — unless we encourage more construction rather expanding price controls.
California currently has two sets of rent control laws.
A new state law limits rent increases for most rental housing in California to no more than 5 percent plus inflation each year, or 10%, whichever is lower. The new law, which lasts until 2030, applies to most housing that is more than 15 years old.
In addition, 21 cities, including nine in the Bay Area, and the county of Los Angeles currently have local limits. Under the state’s Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, local governments can only apply rent controls to multi-unit apartment buildings constructed before Feb. 1, 1995. And they must allow landlords of those older buildings to reset rents to market rates for new tenants.
Proposition 21 would change Costa-Hawkins by allowing cities and counties to implement tougher local rent control rules. Local rent control could be imposed on most housing that is more than 15 years old. Cities could also apply the rules to single-family houses if they’re not owned by people with two or fewer properties.
And the local rules could block landlords’ ability to reset rent to market rates for new tenants, instead limiting increases to up to 15% during the first three years after a new renter moves in. This provision is especially problematic because it punishes landlords who, for prior tenants, have tried to keep their rents low.
However well-intentioned Prop. 21 might be, it’s counterproductive. Most economists agree that rent control reduces the quality and quantity of housing. “The analysis of rent control is among the best-understood issues in all of economics and — among economists, anyway — one of the least controversial,” liberal economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman wrote in 2000.
The principles of economics haven’t changed since then. Voters understood that in 2018. Now they have to weigh in again. Vote no on Prop. 21.


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Hanson: Truman had no good choices before dropping the bombs

This month marks the 75th anniversary of the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan , at Hiroshima on Aug. 6 , and Nagasaki on Aug. 9 .
Each year , Americans argue about our supposed moral shortcomings for being the only nation to have used an atomic weapon in war .
Given the current cultural revolution that topples statues , renames institutions , cancels out the supposedly politically incorrect and wages war on America ’ s past , we will hear numerous attacks on the decision of Democratic President Harry Truman to use the two terrible weapons .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had he not dropped the bombs that precipitated Japan ’ s agreement to surrender less than a week after the bombing of Nagasaki and formally on Sept. 2 ?
One , Truman could have allowed Japan ’ s wounded military government to stop the killing and stay in power .
But the Japanese had already killed more than 10 million Chinese civilians since 1931 , and perhaps another 4 million to 5 million Pacific Islanders , Southeast Asians and members of the Allied Forces since 1940 .
A mere armistice rather than unconditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been fought in vain .
Japan ’ s fascist government likely would have regrouped in a few years to try it again on more favorable terms .
Two , Truman could have postponed the use of the new bombs and invaded Japan over the ensuing year .
Yet Japan had millions of soldiers at home with fortifications , planes and artillery , waiting for the assault .
The fighting in Japan would have made the prior three-month blood bath at Okinawa , which formally ended just six weeks before Hiroshima , seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disaster at Okinawa cost the U.S. 50,000 casualties and 32 ships — the worst battle losses the American Navy suffered in the war .
Three , the U.S. could have held off on using the bomb , postponed the invasion and simply kept firebombing Japan with its huge fleet of B-29 bombers .
The napalming of Tokyo had already taken some 100,000 lives .
With huge new Allied bomber fleets of 5,000 or more planes based on nearby Okinawa , the Japanese death toll would have soared to near a million .
Four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stood down and let the Soviet Red Army overrun China , Korea and Japan itself .
But the Soviet occupation of North Korea alone only led to more war in 1950 .
Had the Soviets grabbed more Japanese-occupied territory , more communist totalitarianism and conflict likely would have ensued , with no chance of a free and democratic postwar Japan .
Five , Truman could have dropped a demonstration bomb or two in Tokyo Bay to warn the Japanese government of their country ’ s certain destruction if it continued the war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the novel weapons would work .
A dud bomb or an unimpressive detonation at sea might have only emboldened the Japanese to continue the war .
There were likely only three bombs ready in August .
It was not clear when more would be available .
So real worries arose that the Japanese might be unimpressed , ignore the warning and ride out the future attacks in hopes there were few additional bombs left .
By August 1945 , six years after the start of World War II in Europe , some 70 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million killed by the Japanese military .
To Americans and most of the world 75 years ago , each day in early August 1945 that the Japanese war machine continued its work meant that thousands of Asian civilians and Allied soldiers would die .
In the terrible arithmetic of World War II , the idea that such a nightmare might end in a day or two was seen as saving millions of lives rather than gratuitously incinerating tens of thousands .
It was in that bleak context that Harry Truman dropped the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among even worse alternatives .

This month marks the 75th anniversary of the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan, at Hiroshima on Aug. 6, and Nagasaki on Aug. 9.
Each year, Americans argue about our supposed moral shortcomings for being the only nation to have used an atomic weapon in war.
Given the current cultural revolution that topples statues, renames institutions, cancels out the supposedly politically incorrect and wages war on America’s past, we will hear numerous attacks on the decision of Democratic President Harry Truman to use the two terrible weapons.
But what were the alternatives that Truman faced had he not dropped the bombs that precipitated Japan’s agreement to surrender less than a week after the bombing of Nagasaki and formally on Sept. 2?
One, Truman could have allowed Japan’s wounded military government to stop the killing and stay in power. But the Japanese had already killed more than 10 million Chinese civilians since 1931, and perhaps another 4 million to 5 million Pacific Islanders, Southeast Asians and members of the Allied Forces since 1940.
A mere armistice rather than unconditional surrender would have meant the Pacific War had been fought in vain. Japan’s fascist government likely would have regrouped in a few years to try it again on more favorable terms.
Two, Truman could have postponed the use of the new bombs and invaded Japan over the ensuing year. Yet Japan had millions of soldiers at home with fortifications, planes and artillery, waiting for the assault.
The fighting in Japan would have made the prior three-month blood bath at Okinawa, which formally ended just six weeks before Hiroshima, seem like child’s play. The disaster at Okinawa cost the U.S. 50,000 casualties and 32 ships — the worst battle losses the American Navy suffered in the war.
Three, the U.S. could have held off on using the bomb, postponed the invasion and simply kept firebombing Japan with its huge fleet of B-29 bombers.
The napalming of Tokyo had already taken some 100,000 lives. With huge new Allied bomber fleets of 5,000 or more planes based on nearby Okinawa, the Japanese death toll would have soared to near a million.
Four, the U.S. might have played rope-a-dope, stood down and let the Soviet Red Army overrun China, Korea and Japan itself.
But the Soviet occupation of North Korea alone only led to more war in 1950. Had the Soviets grabbed more Japanese-occupied territory, more communist totalitarianism and conflict likely would have ensued, with no chance of a free and democratic postwar Japan.
Five, Truman could have dropped a demonstration bomb or two in Tokyo Bay to warn the Japanese government of their country’s certain destruction if it continued the war.
But there was no guarantee that the novel weapons would work. A dud bomb or an unimpressive detonation at sea might have only emboldened the Japanese to continue the war.
There were likely only three bombs ready in August. It was not clear when more would be available. So real worries arose that the Japanese might be unimpressed, ignore the warning and ride out the future attacks in hopes there were few additional bombs left.
By August 1945, six years after the start of World War II in Europe, some 70 million had died, including some 10 million killed by the Japanese military.
To Americans and most of the world 75 years ago, each day in early August 1945 that the Japanese war machine continued its work meant that thousands of Asian civilians and Allied soldiers would die.
In the terrible arithmetic of World War II, the idea that such a nightmare might end in a day or two was seen as saving millions of lives rather than gratuitously incinerating tens of thousands.
It was in that bleak context that Harry Truman dropped the two bombs — opting for a terrible choice among even worse alternatives.
Victor Davis Hanson is a syndicated columnist. (c)2020 Tribune Content Agency. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Review: ‘Secret Garden’ meanders but is faithful to the book

For more than a century , Frances Hodgson Burnett ’ s “ The Secret Garden , ” first published in 1911 , has endured .
It remains one of the great classics of children ’ s literature , a book that deftly combines the dreams and nightmares of childhood .
Its balance of dark and light , death and rebirth is still powerfully moving in its rare harmony .
Mark Mundan ’ s adaptation , which STX Films will release on-demand Friday , struggles to burrow into the interiors of its characters .
It ’ s sluggish at times and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it stays nevertheless in tune with the spirit of Burnett ’ s book , and by the time it reaches its late crescendo , this “ Secret Garden ” blooms nevertheless .
“ The Secret Garden ” has been adapted many times before but only once as a major movie , in 1993 .
Agnieszka Holland ’ s version , a superbly crafted family film , remains a classic in its own right .
Produced by Francis Ford Coppola , shot by Roger Deakins and featuring Maggie Smith as the housekeeper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ( currently streaming on HBO Max ) is tough to top .
Mundan ’ s film , scripted by Jack Thorne , softens some of the edges of its central character , Mary Lennox ( Dixie Egerickx ) .
The first line of Burnett ’ s book refers to the orphaned Mary , whose parents never wanted her , as “ the most disagreeable child ever seen.
” After a brief prologue in India , where Mary ’ s parents die of cholera , she arrives at the gloomy and gothic Misselthwaite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s been taken in by her uncle Archibald Craven ( Colin Firth ) who , himself , is grieving the loss of his wife .
Mary finds herself generally locked in her room , and only gradually does she encounter Archibald or his largely bedridden son Colin ( Edan Hayhurst ) .
Her first and for a while only friend is Dixon ( Amir Wilson ) , the gardener ’ s son .
Together , they discover , behind stone walls and ivy , the hidden , dreamlike garden that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The best that can be said about Mundan ’ s “ Secret Garden ” is that it doesn ’ t try to gin up the story or gloss over its themes .
This is a pleasingly patient film that honestly tackles grief , death and rejuvenation without sentimentality .
Given today ’ s average wide-release children ’ s films , that makes “ The Secret Garden ” a verdant oasis .
Rating : PG ( for thematic elements and some mild peril )

By Jake Coyle | Associated Press
For more than a century, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “The Secret Garden,” first published in 1911, has endured. It remains one of the great classics of children’s literature, a book that deftly combines the dreams and nightmares of childhood. Its balance of dark and light, death and rebirth is still powerfully moving in its rare harmony.
Mark Mundan’s adaptation, which STX Films will release on-demand Friday, struggles to burrow into the interiors of its characters. It’s sluggish at times and too withdrawn for such a vibrant tale. But it stays nevertheless in tune with the spirit of Burnett’s book, and by the time it reaches its late crescendo, this “Secret Garden” blooms nevertheless.
“The Secret Garden” has been adapted many times before but only once as a major movie, in 1993. Agnieszka Holland’s version, a superbly crafted family film, remains a classic in its own right. Produced by Francis Ford Coppola, shot by Roger Deakins and featuring Maggie Smith as the housekeeper, Holland’s “Secret Garden” (currently streaming on HBO Max) is tough to top.
Mundan’s film, scripted by Jack Thorne, softens some of the edges of its central character, Mary Lennox (Dixie Egerickx). The first line of Burnett’s book refers to the orphaned Mary, whose parents never wanted her, as “the most disagreeable child ever seen.”
After a brief prologue in India, where Mary’s parents die of cholera, she arrives at the gloomy and gothic Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire Moors. There she’s been taken in by her uncle Archibald Craven (Colin Firth) who, himself, is grieving the loss of his wife. Mary finds herself generally locked in her room, and only gradually does she encounter Archibald or his largely bedridden son Colin (Edan Hayhurst). Her first and for a while only friend is Dixon (Amir Wilson), the gardener’s son. Together, they discover, behind stone walls and ivy, the hidden, dreamlike garden that will propel and reflect their collective healing.
The best that can be said about Mundan’s “Secret Garden” is that it doesn’t try to gin up the story or gloss over its themes. This is a pleasingly patient film that honestly tackles grief, death and rejuvenation without sentimentality. Given today’s average wide-release children’s films, that makes “The Secret Garden” a verdant oasis.
“The Secret Garden”
2 1/2 stars out of 4
Rating: PG (for thematic elements and some mild peril)
Running time: 102 minutes


mercurynews--2020-08-07--SF Giants Gameday podcast: Dubón’s celebration, a bullpen meltdown and another Dodgers series

The San Francisco Giants should have had a marquee win on Thursday at Coors Field .
One of their promising young talents , Mauricio Dubón , made a leaping catch at the wall in center field and hit a go-ahead three-run home run to push the Giants ahead 3-1 in the seventh inning .
A pitcher that Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi acquired for nothing , Tyler Anderson , threw five shutout innings against a Rockies team that gave up on him last winter .
The Giants had a chance to show their inexperienced bullpen had the poise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and earn a series split , but another seventh-inning implosion doomed a San Francisco club that ’ s now 6-8 on the season .
Dubón ’ s home run celebration in which he dropped his bat and shouted toward the Giants ’ dugout should have become a the game ’ s defining highlight and an example of the joy , energy and intensity young players looking to prove themselves bring to the table .
Instead it was a secondary highlight to Rockies first baseman Daniel Murphy ’ s celebration of a home run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glared at Dubón out in center field as he circled the basepaths .
A potential 3-1 win ended up as a 6-4 loss as the Giants and manager Gabe Kapler continue to face questions as to whether their bullpen is competent enough to navigate through a daunting schedule .
A four-game set at Coors Field was theoretically the easiest part of a 10-game road trip that includes series against the Dodgers and Astros , but the Giants are now three games under .500 on the trip and trying to keep their season from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Bay Area News Group ’ s daily San Francisco Giants podcast , hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley .
We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season .
We Need Your Support !
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I ’ ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com .
Click here for our latest Mercury News offer and here for the latest East Bay Times offer .
Thank you !
— Kerry Crowley

The San Francisco Giants should have had a marquee win on Thursday at Coors Field.
One of their promising young talents, Mauricio Dubón, made a leaping catch at the wall in center field and hit a go-ahead three-run home run to push the Giants ahead 3-1 in the seventh inning.
A pitcher that Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi acquired for nothing, Tyler Anderson, threw five shutout innings against a Rockies team that gave up on him last winter.
The Giants had a chance to show their inexperienced bullpen had the poise and talent to finish off the Rockies and earn a series split, but another seventh-inning implosion doomed a San Francisco club that’s now 6-8 on the season.
Dubón’s home run celebration in which he dropped his bat and shouted toward the Giants’ dugout should have become a the game’s defining highlight and an example of the joy, energy and intensity young players looking to prove themselves bring to the table. Instead it was a secondary highlight to Rockies first baseman Daniel Murphy’s celebration of a home run off Giants reliever Rico Garcia as Murphy glared at Dubón out in center field as he circled the basepaths.
A potential 3-1 win ended up as a 6-4 loss as the Giants and manager Gabe Kapler continue to face questions as to whether their bullpen is competent enough to navigate through a daunting schedule. A four-game set at Coors Field was theoretically the easiest part of a 10-game road trip that includes series against the Dodgers and Astros, but the Giants are now three games under .500 on the trip and trying to keep their season from unraveling.
SF Giants Gameday: Listen to the Bay Area News Group’s daily San Francisco Giants podcast, hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley. We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season.
We Need Your Support!
Several Giants articles will remain free every 30 days – and I’ve launched a free newsletter and podcast that come Monday-Friday – but for access to all of my coverage you’ll need to subscribe to MercuryNews.com or EastBayTimes.com. Click here for our latest Mercury News offer and here for the latest East Bay Times offer. Thank you! — Kerry Crowley


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Suspect achievement: Are the Astros’ successes emblematic of a broader American problem?

This story initially appeared in our Play Ball magazine in March , before the coronavirus delayed the season .
We ’ re posting it now , just ahead of the A ’ s first game against the Astros .
The idea has been passed down through the generations as the paragon of truth , justice , and the American way : Cheaters never prosper .
Give it your best , play by the rules , and you ’ ll be a winner in the end – no matter what the scoreboard says .
Cheaters prosper , all right .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re celebrated as heroes .
And even when they get caught , it ’ s difficult to say with a straight face that they really ever get punished .
Sure , they feign embarrassment .
They issue non-apology apologies , saying mistakes were made and lessons were learned .
But we ’ re really great guys , scout ’ s honor .
Now , can we all just move on ?
Which brings us to the latest chapter of Liars , Cheaters , and Thieves Club featuring the Houston Astros .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future , they remain the 2017 World Series champions despite an elaborate ruse to steal signs of opposing pitchers through the use of real-time , high-definition cameras in the outfield and ( unbelievably ) trash cans .
The exposure of the brazen scheme led to the firing of Astros manager A.J .
Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow in January .
The fallout spread when plot masterminds Carlos Beltran and Alex Cora lost their managerial jobs with the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox , respectively .
And the scandal barrelled into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losing momentum as Opening Day approached .
Harsh words and threats of bean-ball retaliation were being slung between opposing superstars .
The whistleblower — A ’ s pitcher Mike Fiers — was being called a snitch by former star David Ortiz and issued death threats by others .
Much like the vitriol we see in our national politics and so much else that floods our social media feeds these days , it has gotten ugly .
“ We all know what is unfair , ” Kevin Costner said .
“ What happened there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became unfair , and no one knows what to think about it.
” Before the Oscar winner brought the poetry of baseball to life with films that made us laugh ( “ Bull Durham ) and cry ( “ Field of Dreams ” ) , Costner was a darn good ballplayer .
The man who played the philosophizing minor league catcher Crash Davis was talented enough to try out for the powerhouse Cal State Fullerton baseball team in the 1970s .
Today , he ’ s a fan who felt a sting of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers was not achieved fairly .
“ There are rules in place for stealing signs , ” Costner said in an interview with the Bay Area News Group .
“ Clever people watch , and they look .
That ’ s how you get to the big leagues .
You try to see what other people don ’ t see .
But when you take it to where it went in the most important seven games of the season , the game got destroyed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Series that some argue could have gone the other way.
” Costner represents the mainstream opinion no matter how much Astros fans defend their team .
The line of opponents outspoken in their disgust forms behind such stars as the Dodgers ’ Cody Bellinger , the Yankees ’ Aaron Judge and Angels ’ Mike Trout .
The scandal has left Little Leagues from coast to coast wrestling with whether to ban the Astros as a team choice .
But the scandal has reverberated well beyond the national pastime as part of a broader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether cheating at games reflects who we have become as a people .
Does American Exceptionalism really mean anything goes now ?
Perhaps most galling is how precious little guilt , shame or remorse has been shown by those involved .
“ My read on the reaction to the Astros is that the general public is very disappointed and feels the title should have been vacated , ” said Ann Skeet , senior director , Leadership Ethics , at Santa Clara University ’ s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics .
“ That certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe this went too far as an orchestrated , intentional act that many team members , if not the entire team , participated in it.
” Skeet said that over the last few decades , the idea of “ winning at all costs ” has become the overriding theme in sports , business , and even politics .
“ Now the question is being asked : Do the means justify the ends ?
” Skeet said .
“ Many are coming to the conclusion that they don ’ t , and we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will accept in bad or corrupt behavior .
There ’ s a reckoning , and maybe a chance of the pendulum swinging back the other way.
” One can hope .
Or , maybe this is the new normal .
Future historians will be kept busy trying to contextualize the early decades of the 21st century .
They ’ ll have a lot to unpack .
( See : Enron ; The Big Shorting of the Great Recession ; Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos ; college admissions fixing ; Trump , Donald J @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountability throughout sports also has been one of the hallmarks of this age .
The pervasiveness of evading the rules on the fields of play should be an apt metaphor for everything else happening in our time .
It ’ s a feature , not a bug , of modern society .
“ The games provide a symbolic way of expressing something much bigger than getting a ball to the right place , ” said Robert J. Thompson , a Syracuse University professor of popular culture .
“ Sports tells a story of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our society.
” There ’ s nothing new about breaking the rules , of course .
Sports history books have reserved a thick chapter for skullduggery and devious behavior .
Although the scheme wasn ’ t confirmed for five decades , Bobby Thomson ’ s pennant-winning “ Shot Heard ‘ Round the World ” homer for the 1951 New York Giants likely benefited from a long-running , sign-stealing plot involving a telescope behind center field .
Sure , over the years , baseball dealt with spitballs , and corked bats , pine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that all seems so quaint now .
Today ’ s athletes have entered an arena where the line of what is considered acceptable in gaining an edge has been obliterated .
Or perhaps it ’ s just more tolerated in the aftermath of Lance Armstrong , Barry Bonds and the New England Patriots ’ Deflategate scam .
Everybody does it .
So , we just shrug our collective shoulders .
“ Frankly , nothing can shock people anymore , ” Thompson said .
With each new scandal , Thompson thinks about the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sox players who threw World Series games in exchange for money from a gambling syndicate .
It led to the apocryphal story of the boy telling Shoeless Joe Jackson , “ Say it ain ’ t so , Joe !
” “ That ’ s the cliche for the shock and disappointment we all feel that people and teams we respected could have done such a thing , ” Thompson said .
“ But we are so beyond that now , and many people no longer care about cheating because we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he added , is both a reflection and a contributor to this desensitized view of cheating .
“ When “ Survivor ” was changing the landscape of American television , lying was instrumental , ” Thompson said .
“ Richard Hatch , the first huge star , was filled with complicity .
It ’ s why if you talk to a lot of people under the age of 40 now , they ’ re more likely to say , ‘ Cheaters usually win.
’ It ’ s very Machiavellian about who can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point that Thompson makes : Which shows have been most talked-about in recent years .
Series that featured scoundrels , like Breaking Bad , The Wire , and The Sopranos .
We love glorifying those who don ’ t play by the rules in our greatest storytelling .
“ Most of the great television of this era is about liars , cheaters , and bad guys , ” Thompson said .
“ In Mad Men , Don Draper was even lying about his very name.
” Well , we can report , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legit .
But we ’ re still not sure if Astros star Jose Altuve wore a buzzer beneath his jersey to tip him off to incoming pitches .
All of this strikes close to home with parents , who can find themselves struggling to explain to their children the concept of right and wrong – and how it often doesn ’ t seem to apply to their heroes .
Costner is no different .
His three youngest children , Cayden , 12 , Hayes , 10 , Grace , 9 , all play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want my kid to play in a game if they knew what was coming , ” he said .
“ That ’ s the beauty of sports .
The moment between the pitcher and the batter , when each one is trying to outguess the other , that ’ s called drama .
The minute the pitcher lets the ball go and the batter swings , it ’ s going to move into something else , and that ’ s called the action .
And we destroy the drama when someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nice to play for something when it counts , ” Costner said .
“ It ’ s more important to play when it is fair.
” But passive observers – you know , fans – have become deeply jaded about recent results .
The New York Times recently asked if the Astros ’ scandal is the moment when sport becomes known as the “ asterisk era.
” It ’ s a good question .
Just watch .
At next summer ’ s Tokyo Olympics , athletes will perform amazing feats and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar record-breaking fashion , doubts quickly will follow them across the finish line because after Ben Johnson and Marion Jones , after the East Germans , and now the Russians , people don ’ t know what is real and what is chemically enhanced .
Meanwhile , back in baseball , we still don ’ t know the whole story .
The only reason we know any of this is because one man , the life-threatened Fiers , had the integrity to say “ this was wrong.
” He exposed the scheme in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Matt Olson ’ s home run mustache , Khris Davis ’ two hits help extend A ’ s win streak to six games • Flyover , banners , trolling cutouts : A ’ s fans plan to welcome sign-stealing Astros to Oakland Every time the Astros players , owner Jim Crane and baseball commissioner Rob Manfred open their mouths , they seemingly make the situation worse .
( Skeet , the Santa Clara ethicist , sees stark parallels between Crane ’ s abdication of leadership and the recent troubles at companies like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it seems , is more interested in rationalizations than accepting responsibility .
And hey , aren ’ t the Astros victims here , too , because of the humiliation they ’ re facing ?
It will be fascinating to watch how the team reacts to the commotion this season .
Will the Astros fold under the pressure of continual scrutiny , the vicious booing of fans on the road , and a potential retaliatory diet of 90-mph-plus brushback heaters ?
Or , will they fully embrace their role as villains and masters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darth Vader-like , over the competition ?
Costner , 65 , who tries to attend the College Baseball World Series whenever Fullerton advances that far , is careful not to pile onto the Astros .
After all , he knows what it ’ s like to live in the spotlight .
He also empathizes with players who were reluctant to stand up in the face of the “ clubhouse code.
” “ I ’ m not looking for anyone to be persecuted more than they already have been , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the team wish it didn ’ t happen .
But you ’ re talking about almost a profile-in-courage moment to say this is unfair , and I don ’ t want to play this game at this level with this much at stake with that advantage.
” “ We ’ ve seen it time and time again in our lives .
We know who got it right and who got it wrong .
But that doesn ’ t define you for the rest of your life.
” Or , perhaps it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Astros expect .
Maybe this is a kind of tipping point where people start demanding more accountability – and not only for baseball .
The moment when citizens begin to say : This isn ’ t the way we should act .
Yes , another sports scandal probably could be on the horizon .
But the simple fact that the anger is still white-hot brings out the natural optimist in Skeet .
Maybe the Astros players escaped punishment from Major League Baseball .
But she notes how the court of public opinion has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , passionately , about playing the right way .
“ Or we wouldn ’ t still be talking about the Astros , ” she said .
“ People aren ’ t being quiet .
My hope is that it suggests opinion is shifting and people are trying to find a new moral path that ’ s more comfortable than what they ’ re seeing right now .
Yogi Berra couldn ’ t have said it better .

This story initially appeared in our Play Ball magazine in March, before the coronavirus delayed the season. We’re posting it now, just ahead of the A’s first game against the Astros.
The idea has been passed down through the generations as the paragon of truth, justice, and the American way: Cheaters never prosper.
Give it your best, play by the rules, and you’ll be a winner in the end – no matter what the scoreboard says.
Boy, were we suckers.
Cheaters prosper, all right. They win. They get paid. They’re celebrated as heroes. And even when they get caught, it’s difficult to say with a straight face that they really ever get punished.
Sure, they feign embarrassment. They issue non-apology apologies, saying mistakes were made and lessons were learned. But we’re really great guys, scout’s honor. Now, can we all just move on?
Which brings us to the latest chapter of Liars, Cheaters, and Thieves Club featuring the Houston Astros. As of this writing and for the foreseeable future, they remain the 2017 World Series champions despite an elaborate ruse to steal signs of opposing pitchers through the use of real-time, high-definition cameras in the outfield and (unbelievably) trash cans.
The exposure of the brazen scheme led to the firing of Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow in January. The fallout spread when plot masterminds Carlos Beltran and Alex Cora lost their managerial jobs with the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, respectively. And the scandal barrelled into spring training like a 25-car pileup without losing momentum as Opening Day approached.
Harsh words and threats of bean-ball retaliation were being slung between opposing superstars. The whistleblower — A’s pitcher Mike Fiers — was being called a snitch by former star David Ortiz and issued death threats by others.
Much like the vitriol we see in our national politics and so much else that floods our social media feeds these days, it has gotten ugly.
“We all know what is unfair,” Kevin Costner said. “What happened there is fundamentally unfair. The World Series became unfair, and no one knows what to think about it.”
Yes, that Kevin Costner.
Before the Oscar winner brought the poetry of baseball to life with films that made us laugh (“Bull Durham) and cry (“Field of Dreams”), Costner was a darn good ballplayer. The man who played the philosophizing minor league catcher Crash Davis was talented enough to try out for the powerhouse Cal State Fullerton baseball team in the 1970s.
Today, he’s a fan who felt a sting of betrayal with the revelations that the Astros’ World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers was not achieved fairly.
“There are rules in place for stealing signs,” Costner said in an interview with the Bay Area News Group. “Clever people watch, and they look. That’s how you get to the big leagues. You try to see what other people don’t see. But when you take it to where it went in the most important seven games of the season, the game got destroyed. It destroyed the integrity of that World Series that some argue could have gone the other way.”
Costner represents the mainstream opinion no matter how much Astros fans defend their team. The line of opponents outspoken in their disgust forms behind such stars as the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Angels’ Mike Trout. The scandal has left Little Leagues from coast to coast wrestling with whether to ban the Astros as a team choice.
But the scandal has reverberated well beyond the national pastime as part of a broader conversation about character, ethics, and whether cheating at games reflects who we have become as a people. Does American Exceptionalism really mean anything goes now?
Perhaps most galling is how precious little guilt, shame or remorse has been shown by those involved.
“My read on the reaction to the Astros is that the general public is very disappointed and feels the title should have been vacated,” said Ann Skeet, senior director, Leadership Ethics, at Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. “That certainly was my take as well. People believe this went too far as an orchestrated, intentional act that many team members, if not the entire team, participated in it.”
Skeet said that over the last few decades, the idea of “winning at all costs” has become the overriding theme in sports, business, and even politics.
“Now the question is being asked: Do the means justify the ends?” Skeet said. “Many are coming to the conclusion that they don’t, and we’ve gotten out of kilter in what we will accept in bad or corrupt behavior. There’s a reckoning, and maybe a chance of the pendulum swinging back the other way.”
One can hope. Or, maybe this is the new normal.
Future historians will be kept busy trying to contextualize the early decades of the 21st century. They’ll have a lot to unpack. (See: Enron; The Big Shorting of the Great Recession; Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos; college admissions fixing; Trump, Donald J.)
The lack of morality and accountability throughout sports also has been one of the hallmarks of this age. The pervasiveness of evading the rules on the fields of play should be an apt metaphor for everything else happening in our time. It’s a feature, not a bug, of modern society.
“The games provide a symbolic way of expressing something much bigger than getting a ball to the right place,” said Robert J. Thompson, a Syracuse University professor of popular culture. “Sports tells a story of the overarching change we’re seeing in our society.”
There’s nothing new about breaking the rules, of course. Sports history books have reserved a thick chapter for skullduggery and devious behavior. Although the scheme wasn’t confirmed for five decades, Bobby Thomson’s pennant-winning “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” homer for the 1951 New York Giants likely benefited from a long-running, sign-stealing plot involving a telescope behind center field.
Sure, over the years, baseball dealt with spitballs, and corked bats, pine tar, and emery boards. But that all seems so quaint now. Today’s athletes have entered an arena where the line of what is considered acceptable in gaining an edge has been obliterated.
Or perhaps it’s just more tolerated in the aftermath of Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds and the New England Patriots’ Deflategate scam. Everybody does it. So, we just shrug our collective shoulders.
“Frankly, nothing can shock people anymore,” Thompson said.
With each new scandal, Thompson thinks about the more innocent times of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox players who threw World Series games in exchange for money from a gambling syndicate. It led to the apocryphal story of the boy telling Shoeless Joe Jackson, “Say it ain’t so, Joe!”
“That’s the cliche for the shock and disappointment we all feel that people and teams we respected could have done such a thing,” Thompson said. “But we are so beyond that now, and many people no longer care about cheating because we’re all so cynical today.”
Reality TV, he added, is both a reflection and a contributor to this desensitized view of cheating.
“When “Survivor” was changing the landscape of American television, lying was instrumental,” Thompson said. “Richard Hatch, the first huge star, was filled with complicity. It’s why if you talk to a lot of people under the age of 40 now, they’re more likely to say, ‘Cheaters usually win.’ It’s very Machiavellian about who can cheat more effectively.”
One other telling point that Thompson makes: Which shows have been most talked-about in recent years. Series that featured scoundrels, like Breaking Bad, The Wire, and The Sopranos. We love glorifying those who don’t play by the rules in our greatest storytelling.
“Most of the great television of this era is about liars, cheaters, and bad guys,” Thompson said. “In Mad Men, Don Draper was even lying about his very name.”
Well, we can report, the names on the ballplayers’ uniforms are legit. But we’re still not sure if Astros star Jose Altuve wore a buzzer beneath his jersey to tip him off to incoming pitches.
All of this strikes close to home with parents, who can find themselves struggling to explain to their children the concept of right and wrong – and how it often doesn’t seem to apply to their heroes. Costner is no different. His three youngest children, Cayden, 12, Hayes, 10, Grace, 9, all play in youth sports.
“I wouldn’t want my kid to play in a game if they knew what was coming,” he said. “That’s the beauty of sports. The moment between the pitcher and the batter, when each one is trying to outguess the other, that’s called drama. The minute the pitcher lets the ball go and the batter swings, it’s going to move into something else, and that’s called the action. And we destroy the drama when someone knows what is coming.
“It’s nice to play for something when it counts,” Costner said. “It’s more important to play when it is fair.”
But passive observers – you know, fans – have become deeply jaded about recent results. The New York Times recently asked if the Astros’ scandal is the moment when sport becomes known as the “asterisk era.” It’s a good question.
Just watch. At next summer’s Tokyo Olympics, athletes will perform amazing feats and take our breath away. But in similar record-breaking fashion, doubts quickly will follow them across the finish line because after Ben Johnson and Marion Jones, after the East Germans, and now the Russians, people don’t know what is real and what is chemically enhanced.
Meanwhile, back in baseball, we still don’t know the whole story. The only reason we know any of this is because one man, the life-threatened Fiers, had the integrity to say “this was wrong.” He exposed the scheme in a November interview with The Athletic.
Related Articles Oakland Athletics | Rookie outfielder hits first homer but Oakland’s road losing streak reaches nine
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Oakland A’s outfielder could miss rest of season with knee injury Oakland Athletics | Oakland A’s fail to hold another lead as road woes continue
Oakland A’s fail to hold another lead as road woes continue Oakland Athletics | A’s suffer historic ninth-inning collapse while getting swept in Washington
A’s suffer historic ninth-inning collapse while getting swept in Washington Oakland Athletics | A’s fall again as Nationals win on Ruiz’s walkoff home run Every time the Astros players, owner Jim Crane and baseball commissioner Rob Manfred open their mouths, they seemingly make the situation worse. (Skeet, the Santa Clara ethicist, sees stark parallels between Crane’s abdication of leadership and the recent troubles at companies like Wells Fargo and Boeing.)
Everyone, it seems, is more interested in rationalizations than accepting responsibility. And hey, aren’t the Astros victims here, too, because of the humiliation they’re facing?
It will be fascinating to watch how the team reacts to the commotion this season. Will the Astros fold under the pressure of continual scrutiny, the vicious booing of fans on the road, and a potential retaliatory diet of 90-mph-plus brushback heaters? Or, will they fully embrace their role as villains and masters of the dark arts who march, Darth Vader-like, over the competition?
Costner, 65, who tries to attend the College Baseball World Series whenever Fullerton advances that far, is careful not to pile onto the Astros. After all, he knows what it’s like to live in the spotlight. He also empathizes with players who were reluctant to stand up in the face of the “clubhouse code.”
“I’m not looking for anyone to be persecuted more than they already have been,” he said. “I’m sure that players on the team wish it didn’t happen. But you’re talking about almost a profile-in-courage moment to say this is unfair, and I don’t want to play this game at this level with this much at stake with that advantage.”
Then he added:
“We’ve seen it time and time again in our lives. We know who got it right and who got it wrong. But that doesn’t define you for the rest of your life.”
Or, perhaps it will. Just not in the way the Astros expect. Maybe this is a kind of tipping point where people start demanding more accountability – and not only for baseball. The moment when citizens begin to say: This isn’t the way we should act.
Yes, another sports scandal probably could be on the horizon. But the simple fact that the anger is still white-hot brings out the natural optimist in Skeet. Maybe the Astros players escaped punishment from Major League Baseball. But she notes how the court of public opinion has ruled against them.
People do care, passionately, about playing the right way.
“Or we wouldn’t still be talking about the Astros,” she said. “People aren’t being quiet. My hope is that it suggests opinion is shifting and people are trying to find a new moral path that’s more comfortable than what they’re seeing right now.
“It isn’t over.”
Yogi Berra couldn’t have said it better.


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Anaheim hotel brawl: Police were called there 17 times in past month

Anaheim police say they ’ ve had to respond 17 times in the past month to problems at the Cambria Hotel & Suites , where a brawl broke out on Wednesday involving up to 100 people .
Calls in the last 30 days included a robbery , other fights , a domestic violence incident , and two near-drownings , Anaheim police Sgt .
Shane Carringer said Thursday .
“ That ’ s definitely more than the normal average amount , ” Carringer said .
The Wednesday fight prompted a large police response to the 12-story , 352-room hotel at Katella @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Disneyland .
Combatants were using makeshift weapons including broomsticks , police said .
Two people were taken to the hospital and two others were arrested .
Carringer said the fight appears to have started in the pool area .
Some participants told news reporters that the brawl began when a person was pushed into a pool , but police officers did not confirm that .
“ It looks to have started there but we don ’ t really know why , ” Carringer said .
“ Everyone was uncooperative with us .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the fight that weren ’ t even sure who started the fight.
” A manager at the hotel did not return calls seeking comment .
Choice Hotels , which operates the Cambria Hotels brand , said in a statement : “ We are aware of the unfortunate incident that occurred at this franchised property in Anaheim , and we are in contact with hotel management to provide support as they work with law enforcement in the investigation and conduct a full review of what happened.
” They provided no further details of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarding any changes to the hotel ’ s policies .
“ The safety of guests is always top of mind for us and for the owners of our independently owned and operated hotels , ” the statement reads .
It appeared that the hotel wasn ’ t enforcing coronavirus guidelines such as social distancing , Carringer said , so police contacted public health authorities .
On Thursday , Orange County Health Care Agency officials would not confirm if they were investigating the hotel in connection with the crowd on Wednesday or whether they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened in January 2020 .
It has a water park , an outdoor movie wall , fire pits and a putting green .
Weekend rates start around $ 300 a night .

Anaheim police say they’ve had to respond 17 times in the past month to problems at the Cambria Hotel & Suites, where a brawl broke out on Wednesday involving up to 100 people.
Calls in the last 30 days included a robbery, other fights, a domestic violence incident, and two near-drownings, Anaheim police Sgt. Shane Carringer said Thursday.
“That’s definitely more than the normal average amount,” Carringer said.
The Wednesday fight prompted a large police response to the 12-story, 352-room hotel at Katella Avenue and Anaheim Boulevard, two blocks from Disneyland.
Combatants were using makeshift weapons including broomsticks, police said. Two people were taken to the hospital and two others were arrested.
Carringer said the fight appears to have started in the pool area.
Some participants told news reporters that the brawl began when a person was pushed into a pool, but police officers did not confirm that.
“It looks to have started there but we don’t really know why,” Carringer said. “Everyone was uncooperative with us. … There’s people who got into the fight that weren’t even sure who started the fight.”
A manager at the hotel did not return calls seeking comment.
Choice Hotels, which operates the Cambria Hotels brand, said in a statement: “We are aware of the unfortunate incident that occurred at this franchised property in Anaheim, and we are in contact with hotel management to provide support as they work with law enforcement in the investigation and conduct a full review of what happened.”
They provided no further details of the incident and did not answer questions regarding any changes to the hotel’s policies.
“The safety of guests is always top of mind for us and for the owners of our independently owned and operated hotels,” the statement reads.
It appeared that the hotel wasn’t enforcing coronavirus guidelines such as social distancing, Carringer said, so police contacted public health authorities. On Thursday, Orange County Health Care Agency officials would not confirm if they were investigating the hotel in connection with the crowd on Wednesday or whether they had in the past.
The hotel opened in January 2020. It has a water park, an outdoor movie wall, fire pits and a putting green. Weekend rates start around $300 a night.


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Portland mayor blasts protesters: ‘You are attempting to commit murder’

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) — Violent clashes this week between protesters and police in Portland have ratcheted up tensions in the city days after an agreement between state and federal officials appeared to bring calm .
More demonstrations rallied Thursday night , hours after the city ’ s mayor decried the unrest that has roiled Portland since George Floyd was killed .
“ You are not demonstrating , you are attempting to commit murder , ” Mayor Ted Wheeler said Thursday in a hastily called news conference alongside Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell .
Wheeler also warned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public buildings ” in the immediate future .
Thursday night , Portland police declared an unlawful assembly outside a precinct house and protesters were ordered to leave .
They had said earlier that they believed the intent of the crowd was to vandalize and burn the building .
Officers worked to clear streets of demonstrators , at times running at the crowd to push people away .
Smoke canisters were also deployed , news outlets reported .
Portland police said some demonstrators in the group laid ties made of rebar in the street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Early Friday , roads near the precinct house were closed , police said .
“ Any persons including members of the press who violate this order will be subject to arrest , ” the department said in a tweet .
“ Don ’ t think for a moment that if you are participating in this activity , you are not being a prop for the reelection campaign of Donald Trump — because you absolutely are , ” the mayor had said .
“ If you don ’ t want to be part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up.
” The Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front , which advertised the Wednesday rally on social media , used Twitter to announce “ Round 2 ” of the same demonstration on Thursday night with the slogan “ No cops .
No prisons .
Total abolition.
” The group , which described itself as a “ decentralized network of autonomous youth collectives dedicated to direct action towards total liberation , ” did not immediately reply to a request for comment .
The clashes between thousands of protesters and U.S. agents sent by the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal Courthouse stopped after an agreement between Democratic Gov .
Kate Brown and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that called for the agents to begin drawing down their presence in Portland ’ s downtown on July 30 .
But after a brief weekend reprieve , protest activity has continued nightly in other parts of the city , with Portland police , local sheriff ’ s deputies and , in some cases , Oregon State Police troopers on the frontlines as demonstrators demand an end to police funding .
Protests have gone on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death of Floyd , a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him by the neck for nearly eight minutes .
Floyd ’ s death prompted national outrage and a reckoning in cities around the U.S. with systemic racism .
In Portland , the civil disobedience prompted Trump to send federal agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection , U.S .
Marshals Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to guard the federal courthouse , which was increasingly targeted in demonstrations that often turned violent .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the presence of federal agents instead reinvigorated demonstrators and created a focal point for the protests each night amid concerns that Trump was overstepping the limits of federal police powers .
____

By GILLIAN FLACCUS | Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Violent clashes this week between protesters and police in Portland have ratcheted up tensions in the city days after an agreement between state and federal officials appeared to bring calm.
More demonstrations rallied Thursday night, hours after the city’s mayor decried the unrest that has roiled Portland since George Floyd was killed.
“You are not demonstrating, you are attempting to commit murder,” Mayor Ted Wheeler said Thursday in a hastily called news conference alongside Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell. Wheeler also warned that the city anticipated more “attacks on public buildings” in the immediate future.
Thursday night, Portland police declared an unlawful assembly outside a precinct house and protesters were ordered to leave. They had said earlier that they believed the intent of the crowd was to vandalize and burn the building.
Officers worked to clear streets of demonstrators, at times running at the crowd to push people away. Smoke canisters were also deployed, news outlets reported. Portland police said some demonstrators in the group laid ties made of rebar in the street that caused damage to police vehicles.
Early Friday, roads near the precinct house were closed, police said. “Any persons including members of the press who violate this order will be subject to arrest,” the department said in a tweet.
“Don’t think for a moment that if you are participating in this activity, you are not being a prop for the reelection campaign of Donald Trump — because you absolutely are,” the mayor had said. “If you don’t want to be part of that, then don’t show up.”
The Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front, which advertised the Wednesday rally on social media, used Twitter to announce “Round 2” of the same demonstration on Thursday night with the slogan “No cops. No prisons. Total abolition.”
The group, which described itself as a “decentralized network of autonomous youth collectives dedicated to direct action towards total liberation,” did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
The clashes between thousands of protesters and U.S. agents sent by the Trump administration to guard the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse stopped after an agreement between Democratic Gov. Kate Brown and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that called for the agents to begin drawing down their presence in Portland’s downtown on July 30.
But after a brief weekend reprieve, protest activity has continued nightly in other parts of the city, with Portland police, local sheriff’s deputies and, in some cases, Oregon State Police troopers on the frontlines as demonstrators demand an end to police funding.
Protests have gone on unabated in Portland since May 25 following the death of Floyd, a Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him by the neck for nearly eight minutes. Floyd’s death prompted national outrage and a reckoning in cities around the U.S. with systemic racism.
In Portland, the civil disobedience prompted Trump to send federal agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to guard the federal courthouse, which was increasingly targeted in demonstrations that often turned violent.
It was a move intended to quell the unrest but the presence of federal agents instead reinvigorated demonstrators and created a focal point for the protests each night amid concerns that Trump was overstepping the limits of federal police powers.
____


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Close friend admits murdering former Arkansas lawmaker found stabbed outside her home

POCAHONTAS , Ark .
( AP ) — An Arkansas woman pleaded guilty Thursday to killing a former state lawmaker who was found dead from multiple stab wounds outside her home last year .
Rebecca Lynn O ’ Donnell was a close friend and former aide to Linda Collins , whose body was found June 4 , 2019 , outside her home in Pocahontas .
O ’ Donnell , 49 , also pleaded no contest to two counts of criminal solicitation in a separate case where she was charged with asking fellow inmates to kill Collins ’ ex-husband and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sentenced to 50 years in prison under a deal with prosecutors .
Prosecutors had said O ’ Donnell had been stealing from Collins and killed her to avoid arrest .
“ No amount of punishment will ever fill that void that Rebecca O ’ Donnell made in our lives the day she killed our mother , ” Tate Williams , Collins ’ daughter , said after the hearing .
“ Today we find some shred of peace that Rebecca O ’ Donnell will be put away in prison for a very long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” O ’ Donnell was originally charged with capital murder , and prosecutors last year said they planned to seek the death penalty .
“ The plea deal was not what my first choice would have been , but at least we do have a guaranteed amount of time that she will be imprisoned for and we will have the ability as the victim ’ s family to argue against her release at her parole hearings , ” said Collins ’ son , Butch Smith , who found his mother ’ s body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked on Collins ’ unsuccessful reelection campaign in 2018 and was a witness in the former lawmaker ’ s divorce proceedings .
Investigators determined that Collins was last seen alive on May 28 , 2019 .
Video footage from Collins ’ security system showed O ’ Donnell removing security cameras from inside the former lawmaker ’ s residence that day , investigators said .
Collins served one term in the state House and was originally elected as a Democrat in 2010 .
She switched parties and became a Republican in 2011 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both chambers of the Legislature .
She was elected to the state Senate in 2014 and was one of the most conservative lawmakers in the majority-GOP chamber .

POCAHONTAS, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas woman pleaded guilty Thursday to killing a former state lawmaker who was found dead from multiple stab wounds outside her home last year.
Rebecca Lynn O’Donnell was a close friend and former aide to Linda Collins, whose body was found June 4, 2019, outside her home in Pocahontas.
O’Donnell, 49, also pleaded no contest to two counts of criminal solicitation in a separate case where she was charged with asking fellow inmates to kill Collins’ ex-husband and others while she was in jail.
She was sentenced to 50 years in prison under a deal with prosecutors.
Prosecutors had said O’Donnell had been stealing from Collins and killed her to avoid arrest.
“No amount of punishment will ever fill that void that Rebecca O’Donnell made in our lives the day she killed our mother,” Tate Williams, Collins’ daughter, said after the hearing. “Today we find some shred of peace that Rebecca O’Donnell will be put away in prison for a very long time, unable to hurt anyone else.”
O’Donnell was originally charged with capital murder, and prosecutors last year said they planned to seek the death penalty.
“The plea deal was not what my first choice would have been, but at least we do have a guaranteed amount of time that she will be imprisoned for and we will have the ability as the victim’s family to argue against her release at her parole hearings,” said Collins’ son, Butch Smith, who found his mother’s body outside her home.
O’Donnell worked on Collins’ unsuccessful reelection campaign in 2018 and was a witness in the former lawmaker’s divorce proceedings.
Investigators determined that Collins was last seen alive on May 28, 2019. Video footage from Collins’ security system showed O’Donnell removing security cameras from inside the former lawmaker’s residence that day, investigators said.
Collins served one term in the state House and was originally elected as a Democrat in 2010. She switched parties and became a Republican in 2011, a year before the GOP won control of both chambers of the Legislature. She was elected to the state Senate in 2014 and was one of the most conservative lawmakers in the majority-GOP chamber.


mercurynews--2020-08-07--Get to know new 49ers left tackle Trent Williams: 5 insightful quotes from 7-time Pro Bowler

Trent Williams can ’ t hide his joy over being in the Bay Area .
The 49ers ’ new left tackle is thrilled to be out of a deteriorating situation in Washington , instead plugged in as a cornerstone player on a contender , already bonding with his Super Bowl-hungry teammates .
Williams took reporters on an insightful , wide-ranging journey Thursday in a video conference this first week of training camp workouts .
Their walk-through practices have reflected game-like energy to Williams , who did not play last year in his final season with Washington .
“ The friendship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ ve missed that a lot over the last 12 , 14 months , ” Williams said .
“ It felt too good to be true .
I know we have a lot going on but I was so excited to get back in the swing of things I kind of overlooked it.
” Here are his top five quotes from Thursday ’ s media session : 1 .
On Nick Bosa , the NFL ’ s Defensive Rookie of the Year last season : “ He ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me to use to knock the rust off .
Probably one of the biggest challenges I can face is Nick .
He ’ s one of the top four or five ( pass ) rushers in the game .
To get that work and have that everyday , we can bounce ideas off each other , it ’ s going to work out best case for me and I hope he gains just as much I do from it.
” 2 .
On not opting out as a high-risk player , having overcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his scalp : “ To be honest , I didn ’ t even give it a thought of opting out .
I didn ’ t play last year .
If I don ’ t play this year , it ’ s going to be by force , not by options .
I have nothing against guys who opt out .
Everyone has the own situation to think through .
Me , personally , it wasn ’ t an option.
” 3 .
On what 49ers he ’ s eager to see play : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing Jet ( Jerick McKinnon , who trained this offseason at Williams ’ Houston gym ) .
After two years , the way he ’ s looked in offseason .
I just can ’ t fathom him not being a breakout player .
“ I want to see George ( Kittle ) up close , and seeing that defense and the three linebackers , the way they fly around , the way the DB communicate and how freakish the D-line is , I just want to get this team to a game .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ( Oklahoma ) had three of the top four picks atop the draft .
I haven ’ t gotten that feeling since then.
” 4 .
On his first impression of Jimmy Garoppolo : “ The player he is , it ’ s well documented .
As a person , he ’ s one of the most down to earth guys to meet .
He ’ s probably the hottest thing walking around the Bay Area .
He is a very laid-back , welcoming guy .
I can ’ t wait to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to be a blast .
I can ’ t say enough good things about this team.
” 5 .
On the first walk-throughs of camp “ The walk-through , ( Raheem Mostert ) says it ’ s a run-through .
I say it was a game .
Coming from where I came from , a walk-through was a walk-through .
Ours here was pretty intense , a lot of focus , a lot of attention to detail and guys were flying around .
“ You can tell this is a hungry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fit right in .
“ …As soon as you walk in the building , the vibe is different .
My first team meeting , the first time we were all together , I could feel the vibe .
This environment that Kyle and John have created , they ’ ve done an outstanding job .
They ’ ve got a bunch of like-minded fellas in the locker room .
Everybody feeds off each other and encourages each other .
You ’ ve got to experience it to believe it.
” • 49ers ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on from critical Super Bowl non-call , using loss as motivation

Trent Williams can’t hide his joy over being in the Bay Area. The 49ers’ new left tackle is thrilled to be out of a deteriorating situation in Washington, instead plugged in as a cornerstone player on a contender, already bonding with his Super Bowl-hungry teammates.
Williams took reporters on an insightful, wide-ranging journey Thursday in a video conference this first week of training camp workouts. Their walk-through practices have reflected game-like energy to Williams, who did not play last year in his final season with Washington.
“The friendship and bond that comes with a team, I’ve missed that a lot over the last 12, 14 months,” Williams said. “It felt too good to be true. I know we have a lot going on but I was so excited to get back in the swing of things I kind of overlooked it.”
Here are his top five quotes from Thursday’s media session:
1. On Nick Bosa, the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year last season:
“He’s going to be one of the pivotal tools for me to use to knock the rust off. Probably one of the biggest challenges I can face is Nick. He’s one of the top four or five (pass) rushers in the game. To get that work and have that everyday, we can bounce ideas off each other, it’s going to work out best case for me and I hope he gains just as much I do from it.”
2. On not opting out as a high-risk player, having overcome a cancerous growth removed last year from his scalp:
“To be honest, I didn’t even give it a thought of opting out. I didn’t play last year. If I don’t play this year, it’s going to be by force, not by options. I have nothing against guys who opt out. Everyone has the own situation to think through. Me, personally, it wasn’t an option.”
3. On what 49ers he’s eager to see play:
“I’m looking forward to seeing Jet (Jerick McKinnon, who trained this offseason at Williams’ Houston gym). After two years, the way he’s looked in offseason. I just can’t fathom him not being a breakout player.
“I want to see George (Kittle) up close, and seeing that defense and the three linebackers, the way they fly around, the way the DB communicate and how freakish the D-line is, I just want to get this team to a game. It feels like college again, when we (Oklahoma) had three of the top four picks atop the draft. I haven’t gotten that feeling since then.”
4. On his first impression of Jimmy Garoppolo:
“The player he is, it’s well documented. As a person, he’s one of the most down to earth guys to meet. He’s probably the hottest thing walking around the Bay Area. He is a very laid-back, welcoming guy. I can’t wait to get started. I feel it’s going to be a blast. I can’t say enough good things about this team.”
5. On the first walk-throughs of camp
“The walk-through, (Raheem Mostert) says it’s a run-through. I say it was a game. Coming from where I came from, a walk-through was a walk-through. Ours here was pretty intense, a lot of focus, a lot of attention to detail and guys were flying around.
“You can tell this is a hungry group of guys and I feel I fit right in.