newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Jon Rahm: Don’t expect Tiger Woods-like monopoly on No. 1 spot in this era

SAN FRANCISCO — Well , it was fun while it lasted .
Jon Rahm got to bask in being ranked No .
1 in the world for all of two weeks .
When the 25-year-old Spaniard won the Memorial Tournament two-plus weeks ago , he realized a dream he ’ d been carrying since he was a youth : He ascended to the No .
1 ranking in the world — joining his idol , Seve Ballesteros , as the only Spaniards to hold the No .
1 world ranking .
With Justin Thomas ’ win this past Sunday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jude , he wrested Rahm ’ s No .
1 ranking away after just two weeks and enters this week ’ s PGA Championship as No .
1 .
To Rahm ’ s credit , rather than lament his lost top ranking , he dished out credit to Thomas on Tuesday , two days before the PGA begins at Harding Park .
“ It ’ s well-earned , ’ ’ Rahm said .
“ I played pretty bad last week [ tie for 52nd ] and he played amazing to win .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now where it ’ s going to be hard to have somebody distance themselves .
When you have so many great players playing who go out at the same time , at any given point for two or three months , one of us can get hot and take the No .
1 spot .
“ I think we might be entering an era where we bounce back and forth .
Hopefully , we can just battle it out the rest of the year and battle for majors and FedExCup and everything that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s an exciting time in golf .
It ’ s going to be hard to have a Tiger-esque case right now [ when one player holds onto No .
1 for a long period of time ] because there ’ s so many players with so much talent and are really , really good.
’ ’ An illustration of how dominant Tiger Woods was : He held the No .
1 ranking for a record 281 consecutive weeks .
In the most recent 281 weeks , the No .
1 ranking has changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a situation where we are going back and forth , and hopefully I ’ m the one that stays up there for a while , ’ ’ Rahm said .
“ But it ’ s going to take a lot of good play.
’ ’ That could start with this week ’ s PGA .
Rahm , in his 13 career majors as a pro , hasn ’ t yet truly contended to win one , though he ’ s played well enough to post five finishes in the top 11 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , became just the third player ever to reach No .
1 without a major championship victory , joining Lee Westwood and Luke Donald .
He ’ d like to regain No .
1 this week and change that narrative with a major championship victory .
Rahm will begin the week with a comfortable pairing , playing the first two rounds with Phil Mickelson and fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia .
“ It ’ s an honor to play with one of the greatest Spanish players to ever play , ’ ’ Rahm said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching him , and he ’ s been there for me when I ’ ve needed it .
If anything , even though me and Sergio are both Spanish countrymen , I spend a lot more time with Phil , with the relationship with him , his brother [ Tim ] being my college coach [ at Arizona State ] and then my manager afterwards .
“ I ’ ve spent a lot of time with both .
They have both helped me out a lot and it should be a really fun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s rare that you get a good one like this one , and they both mean a lot to me .
I ’ m happy to share the stage with them .
’ ’

SAN FRANCISCO — Well, it was fun while it lasted.
Jon Rahm got to bask in being ranked No. 1 in the world for all of two weeks.
When the 25-year-old Spaniard won the Memorial Tournament two-plus weeks ago, he realized a dream he’d been carrying since he was a youth: He ascended to the No. 1 ranking in the world — joining his idol, Seve Ballesteros, as the only Spaniards to hold the No. 1 world ranking.
With Justin Thomas’ win this past Sunday in Memphis, Tenn., at the WGC-St. Jude, he wrested Rahm’s No. 1 ranking away after just two weeks and enters this week’s PGA Championship as No. 1.
To Rahm’s credit, rather than lament his lost top ranking, he dished out credit to Thomas on Tuesday, two days before the PGA begins at Harding Park.
“It’s well-earned,’’ Rahm said. “I played pretty bad last week [tie for 52nd] and he played amazing to win. I think we are in an era right now where it’s going to be hard to have somebody distance themselves. When you have so many great players playing who go out at the same time, at any given point for two or three months, one of us can get hot and take the No. 1 spot.
“I think we might be entering an era where we bounce back and forth. Hopefully, we can just battle it out the rest of the year and battle for majors and FedExCup and everything that’s coming up. It’s an exciting time in golf. It’s going to be hard to have a Tiger-esque case right now [when one player holds onto No. 1 for a long period of time] because there’s so many players with so much talent and are really, really good.’’
An illustration of how dominant Tiger Woods was: He held the No. 1 ranking for a record 281 consecutive weeks. In the most recent 281 weeks, the No. 1 ranking has changed hands 27 times.
“It could be a situation where we are going back and forth, and hopefully I’m the one that stays up there for a while,’’ Rahm said. “But it’s going to take a lot of good play.’’
That could start with this week’s PGA. Rahm, in his 13 career majors as a pro, hasn’t yet truly contended to win one, though he’s played well enough to post five finishes in the top 11.
Rahm, when he won the Memorial, became just the third player ever to reach No. 1 without a major championship victory, joining Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. He’d like to regain No. 1 this week and change that narrative with a major championship victory.
Rahm will begin the week with a comfortable pairing, playing the first two rounds with Phil Mickelson and fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
“It’s an honor to play with one of the greatest Spanish players to ever play,’’ Rahm said. “[I] grew up watching him, and he’s been there for me when I’ve needed it. If anything, even though me and Sergio are both Spanish countrymen, I spend a lot more time with Phil, with the relationship with him, his brother [Tim] being my college coach [at Arizona State] and then my manager afterwards.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with both. They have both helped me out a lot and it should be a really fun pairing. I’m excited. It’s rare that you get a good one like this one, and they both mean a lot to me. I’m happy to share the stage with them.’’


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Ryan Reynolds apologizes for marrying Blake Lively on a plantation

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Ryan Reynolds says he and @ @ @ @ @ and unreservedly sorry ” for getting married on a slavery-era plantation .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ What we saw at the time was a wedding venue on Pinterest , ” he @ @ @ @ @ What we saw after was a place built upon devastating tragedy.
” The pair wed @ @ @ @ @ in South Carolina .
It wasn ’ t Lively ’ s only flirtation with Confederate @ @ @ @ @ Web site , Preserve , memorably ran a fashion spread titled “ Allure of Antebellum @ @ @ @

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Ryan Reynolds says he and Blake Lively are “deeply and unreservedly sorry” for getting married on a slavery-era plantation.
“It’s impossible to reconcile. What we saw at the time was a wedding venue on Pinterest,” he told Fast Company. “What we saw after was a place built upon devastating tragedy.”
The pair wed in 2012 at Boone Hall in South Carolina.
It wasn’t Lively’s only flirtation with Confederate iconography. Her now-defunct lifestyle Web site, Preserve, memorably ran a fashion spread titled “Allure of Antebellum” in 2014.


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Brooks Koepka now healthy and peaking for PGA Championship

SAN FRANCISCO — The last question posed to Tiger Woods ...

SAN FRANCISCO — Who’s the baddest man in golf right now?
With the No. 1 ranking already having changed hands four times this year, that answer is up for debate on the eve of the first major championship to be played in more than a year with this week’s PGA Championship at Harding Park.
There’s no debate in the mind of Brooks Koepka, though.
Koepka doesn’t care who officially holds the top spot — it’s Justin Thomas at the moment thanks to his win Sunday in Memphis. He doesn’t care that Bryson DeChambeau has hogged so much of the attention for the past two months with his bulked-up frame and added length off the tee.
Koepka will walk to the first tee Thursday morning believing he’s the player to beat this week. Because that’s how he rolls.
Koepka held the No. 1 spot for 47 weeks before he lost it to Rory McIlroy in February. McIlroy then lost it to Jon Rahm, who held it for two weeks before Thomas took it on Sunday.
Koepka is going for a PGA Championship three-peat this week, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished in 93 years, and he pronounced this on Tuesday: “I feel very confident in myself. I don’t put any expectations on myself. [I] just go out and go play golf exactly like I know how. And if I do that, then yeah, I probably should win.’’
Tiger Woods knows the feeling. Woods, in the height of his powers, once held the No. 1 ranking for a record 281 consecutive weeks.
“There’s probably only been maybe three times where I knew that all I had to do was keep my heartbeat going and I was going to win the tournament,’’ Woods said Tuesday. “In ’97, I felt pretty good at Augusta and then Pebble Beach in 2000, and then obviously at St. Andrews the same year. I had everything rolling.’’
Here’s the rub with Koepka: He hasn’t had everything rolling at all. He’s battled a balky knee, on which he had arthroscopic surgery, and his results for the better part of the past year have been inconsistent.
But he nearly won the WGC-St. Jude Classic last Sunday. Go figure. Just in time for a major championship, Koepka’s in form. He won four majors from the 2017 U.S. Open to the 2019 PGA and, in the 2019 majors, he won once, finished runner-up twice and tied for fourth.
Now he appears to have found his game. Look out.
“Sometimes the results are a little bit slower than what I would like [because] I expect so much of myself — almost too much sometimes — and that can be annoying,’’ Koepka said. “But … I knew this [major] week was a couple weeks away, so I had no other option other than to find it. I’m excited. This is a big-boy golf course. [You’ve] got to hit it straight and put it in the fairway. It’s going to be quite long. I think it kind of plays into my hands.’’
Koepka conceded that his struggles messed with his head.
“As far as confidence, I got frustrated,’’ he conceded. “I think anybody would. Nobody likes playing bad. But … I knew it was only a couple swings away. Once I got the feeling, I’d be off and running, and here we are.’’
Yes. Here we are.
Will Thomas’ second stint at No. 1 (he held the top spot for four weeks in 2018) last past Sunday?
Or will Koepka, currently ranked No. 6, inch his way closer to taking back what he believes he never should have relinquished in the first place?
“The goal is to be the best player,’’ Koepka said. “If you’re not trying to do that, then I don’t know what you’re doing. I’m not out here to just try to compete and have a good time. I’m out here to win. Right now, you’ve got ‘JT,’ Jon, Justin, myself, DJ [Dustin Johnson] all right there. It makes it fun. It’s exciting.’’
Thomas, who’s seeking a longer stint at No. 1 than his first one, said, “Now it’s just about trying to separate and see how long you can hold it. There’s a handful of people that have had it for a short amount of time and I just want to hold it for quite a bit longer.’’
Those footsteps Thomas might be hearing are Koepka’s.
“I wasn’t swinging it right because of my knee,’’ Koepka said. “It happens. But at the same time, it can make you a little hungry to go out and prove yourself, and that’s where I’m at right now.’’
A hungry Koepka can be a dangerous Koepka — especially at a major championship, where he thrives. Baddest man in golf regardless of what the rankings say.


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--New Jersey woman arrested for attacking Staples customer over mask dispute

New Jersey police on Tuesday arrested a woman who allegedly attacked a shopper when the person asked her to properly @ @ @ @ @ a Staples store , a report said .
Terri Thomas , 25 , was charged @ @ @ @ @ July 29 encounter at a Hackensack location that left the 54-year-old victim with a broken @ @ @ @ @ citing police .
Thomas allegedly snapped when she was asked by the victim , who @ @ @ @ @ , to cover her nose with the mask , police had said .
Cops last @ @ @ @ @ incident showing the victim using her cane to try to fend off Thomas before getting @ @ @ @ @

New Jersey police on Tuesday arrested a woman who allegedly attacked a shopper when the person asked her to properly wear her face mask in a Staples store, a report said.
Terri Thomas, 25, was charged with aggravated assault in the July 29 encounter at a Hackensack location that left the 54-year-old victim with a broken leg, NJ.com reported, citing police.
Thomas allegedly snapped when she was asked by the victim, who was using the copy machine, to cover her nose with the mask, police had said.
Cops last Friday released video of the incident showing the victim using her cane to try to fend off Thomas before getting tossed to the ground.


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Joe Biden’s basement strategy will backfire: Goodwin

Get this : Democrats want to scrap this year ’ s presidential debates ... .

For Joe Biden, these are the best of days. Riding high in the polls, he has a long list of Democrats scrambling to be his running mate, while others offer themselves for plum cabinet posts.
Media supporters are so confident of his victory that they are coming out of the woodwork to advise him to skip the three presidential debates.
Somewhere, some member of the Deep State is probably sneaking around the White House, measuring the curtains.
It is an astonishing turnabout for the vice president. Recall that his best debate performances were mediocre, and he did so badly in the first primaries that going into South Carolina, the smart money said he had to win big or go home.
Yet here he is, with a comfortable lead over Donald Trump — and almost exactly where Hillary Clinton was four years ago.
On Aug. 4, 2016, Clinton led Trump by nearly 7 points in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls. That same metric now has Biden up by 7.4 points.
With apologies to Yogi Berra, if Biden isn’t careful, America could wake up in November with that déjà vu feeling all over again.
Just as military generals prepare to fight the last war, political consultants are prone to repeat the same errors that led to defeat before. The big one here is that Biden can play it safe, stay in his basement bunker, and take the oath next January.
For example, Biden has answered questions from the press just twice this summer, and the media obliged him with softball questions. It is notable that Chris Wallace of Fox News, a notoriously tough interview, recently grilled President Trump on his Sunday show, and then followed with an invitation to Biden that was promptly rejected.
The most fanciful part of the hidin’ Biden fantasies is the newest — that he can skip the debates and still get elected. I don’t see how that works.
For one thing, if there is anything voters, and Trump, can smell, it’s fear. And the mere entertaining of the idea that Biden could break with tradition that goes back nearly half a century and take a pass on face-to-face showdowns with his opponent may masquerade as strategy, but it is a sign of fear, plain and simple.
It is the fear that Biden will be unmasked as mentally unfit to be president. His deficiencies are not a secret to those who know him, and general-election voters have a right to see them clearly before they make their final choice for the presidency.
So far, Biden’s team hasn’t suggested he won’t debate Trump, but it is almost certainly something they have thought about. It’s even possible they have given a silent approval to the media Praetorian Guard floating the trial balloon to see if it flies. As of now, it’s still flying, unmolested by any hostile fire from other top Democrats. Where are Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi? Where is the Democratic National Committee? Where is Barack Obama on this one?
Their silence shows they, too, want to know if the no-show ruse will work. After all, they, too, must suspect that Biden cannot go for three 90-minute encounters with Trump and emerge intact.
Think what that means: It means the Biden campaign and the entire establishment of the Democratic Party are prepared to foist an impaired man into the Oval Office, uncertain that he can fulfill his duties. Trump Derangement Syndrome has done some strange things to people, but this one takes the cake.
In reality, if it became widely understood among independent voters that the insiders wanted Biden to skip the debates because they knew he wasn’t up to them, that would almost certainly lead to a Trump victory. Put it this way: Why would anyone who isn’t mad with Trump hatred vote for an opponent whose most intimate associates know he can’t do the job?
Although the first televised presidential debate is the most famous — the one between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960 — it wasn’t until 1976, when President Gerald Ford met challenger Jimmy Carter, that debates cemented themselves as a fall requirement. For the last two decades, there have been three each cycle, and one more between running mates.
Some have been enormously consequential, but most matter because they establish a baseline test of competence and readiness. With the coronavirus wreaking havoc on this year’s party conventions, the acceptance speeches by Trump and Biden will lose some of their excitement, giving their debates added significance.
If Biden doesn’t show, that will be conclusive proof that he’s not capable of being president.


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Michelle Obama explains why she fell in love with Barack on podcast

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Michelle Obama ’ s first @ @ @ @ @ podcast was husband Barack Obama .
She revealed , “ One of the reasons I @ @ @ @ @ is because you are guided by the principle that we are each other ’ s @ @ @ @ @ keepers.
” The former president shot back , “ It wasn ’ t just my @ @ @ @ @ OK .
”

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Michelle Obama’s first guest on her new Spotify podcast was husband Barack Obama.
She revealed, “One of the reasons I fell in love with you is because you are guided by the principle that we are each other’s brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.”
The former president shot back, “It wasn’t just my looks … that’s OK.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--‘Stargirl’s Brec Bassinger Breaks Down “Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E. Part One”

We ’ re at the beginning of the end for Season 1 of The CW ’ s hit DC ’ s Stargirl , and things are going down .
The ending of “ Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E .
Part One ” — and spoilers past this point — left Courtney Whitmore ( Brec Bassinger ) about to be pummeled by a brainwashed Pat Dugan ( Luke Wilson ) in his S.T.R.I.P.E .
armor , the villains mere minutes away from taking over half of America , and our heroes in the young Justice Society very much out of their depths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much chaos , in these last two episodes in particular , ” Bassinger teased to Decider about the last two episodes .
That said , other than a pair of fights at the top of the episode — Pat vs Sportsmaster ( Neil Hopkins ) , and Courtney vs Tigress ( Joy Osmanski ) — the first hour was , in a way , the calm before the storm as the heroes all gathered together to finally figure out what the villains in the Injustice Society of America have been up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing good .
The ISA is going to brainwash half of America seemingly for good reasons : they want to combat global warming , eliminate racism , and the kicker , create Universal Health Care .
Only problem ?
Once they activate their machine , it ’ s going to kill at least 25 % of the people involved .
With 100 million as the test case , you do the math .
And even worse news ?
The machine affects adults only , leaving the kids on their own to save America… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in mind , we chatted with Bassinger about the episode , the big action scenes , and what she hopes might happen in Season 2 .
Decider : Every single interview I ’ ve done , it comes up what a tight bond you all had on set… This is really the first episode where you have all the good guys in-the-know , in one place at the same time .
What was it like actually filming the cabin scenes , having everybody there simultaneously ?
Brec Bassinger : Okay .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that cabin scene specifically was so intimidating .
When you have that many people on set , that long of a scene , that important — it took so much planning .
That one scene where we ’ re coming up with a game plan basically took a whole day to film .
But it was so rewarding to finally have everyone there .
I ’ ve done scenes separately with everyone this season , but to really have what I felt like was my whole team there together .
It was so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moments like that you move into a leadership role , on set as well as in character ?
Sure !
I feel like I do .
Only in that looking back throughout the season , Episode 4 , where we really introduce Wildcat , Yvette would come onto set .
And while she would have a couple of scenes on set , she didn ’ t know the whole crew by name yet .
So just simple things like that , where I would introduce her to everyone and make sure she knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a leadership role in those ways .
But also , you ’ ve talked to my cast .
They ’ re so great and so talented .
We all learned different things from each other .
Let ’ s talk about that phenomenal fight with Tigress at the beginning of the episode .
The move where Courtney is fighting Tigress , and Amy Smart is being whipped around on the staff… I love that !
I love that .
They are so creative with the staff work .
It ’ s not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene is probably my favorite of the whole season .
I think it ’ s so creative and fun .
Sorry , I got excited .
No , that ’ s fine !
That ’ s basically what I was going to ask you , what it was like choreographing and working that out on set .
Particularly given that you got to wreck half the house during that fight .
Yeah .
Well we have what ’ s called a “ pre-vis ” … Basically it ’ s like a video game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then our stunt coordinator , he pre-films it with his stunt team .
Going into it , we know exactly what the fight scene is going to look like .
We have a shot list , we ’ re shown this is the shot we ’ re getting .
So very , very planned out .
But it was really fun to have Amy there , because it was her first time really getting to be part of the action .
She killed it .
The thing that was so fun was Amy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head .
That was — it was a stunt vase , but it was practical .
She actually was smashing a vase over her head .
And that was probably the scariest part .
We put so much time on that , just for planning .
We only had two vases , so we only had two takes to do it .
But it turned out great , it was so fun .
Amy loved it .
We find out this episode that Cameron isn ’ t in the loop on the ISA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father is keeping him out of it .
With him in the clear , are we going to start to see any romance bubble up between the two of you ?
Or is it too late in the season at this point for any of that sort of stuff ?
This season , I feel like it doesn ’ t dive into it too much .
But with that second season pick up , the options are endless .
On that note as well , it ’ s kind of refreshing to watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Certainly we ’ ve had Pat and Barbara dealing with it , and we ’ ve had little teases here and there , but I ’ m curious to hear your take on it… Were you expecting to be more shipping ?
I ’ ve spoken to Geoff about this , and I really love his perspective , so I ’ m going to take that on .
He said when writing , when you have a relationship with labels , the only place for that , story-wise , for that to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s so much going on .
I feel like that storyline has been done so much .
With the DC Universe , the options are endless .
Why would we focus on a storyline that ’ s seen so much , when we can be putting that on the back-burner , like you said ?
Still have those moments of real — because our show has so much heart .
But then , focus on these crazy action scenes and stuff .
I like it .
Just because I feel like there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Where what I ’ m doing now , there ’ s other things we can focus on .
To that end , there ’ s a lot of focus on the relationship between Courtney and Mikey in this episode .
It feels like they reach a bit of an understanding by the end .
Have they moved past their conflict at this point ?
Or is that something that ’ s always going to bubble up because their siblings ?
I grew up with two older brothers , so maybe I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my brothers endlessly , but there ’ s always that little sibling rivalry .
I think that just comes natural .
I ’ ve never had a step-sibling , so I can ’ t speak true to that .
But I imagine it would be similar .
What can you , if anything , tease about the finale ?
There ’ s obviously a lot that could potentially go down beyond the main plot .
You ’ ve got several ticking time bombs — Grundy and Shiv , for example .
What I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I feel like there ’ s so much chaos , in these last two episodes in particular , with Grundy , with Shiv .
Ugh .
Oh my gosh .
Okay , this is really fun .
So there ’ s actually a scene that was originally written in the pilot .
But it didn ’ t make sense yet .
It ’ s in this , it ’ s the very , very last scene of the season .
It ’ s so beautiful .
Be expecting lots of chaos , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But then also , when it comes to Pat and Courtney , there ’ s some really great [ scenes ] .
Before I let you go , given that you do have this Season 2 pick up , what are you hoping for ?
What do you want to see ?
I ’ d like to see the continual development of the JSA .
Something I ’ ve loved about this first season is : we weren ’ t great heroes from the beginning .
We failed , we got our butts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want us to be able to continue that growth .
I know Yvette is hoping to get Sylvester Stallone on as the original Wildcat , that ’ s what she ’ s kind of gunning for .
[ Gasps ] Oh , that would be cool .
Okay , I ’ m stealing her answer .
I hope for that too .
[ Laughs ] This interview has been edited for length and content .

We’re at the beginning of the end for Season 1 of The CW’s hit DC’s Stargirl, and things are going down. The ending of “Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E. Part One” — and spoilers past this point — left Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger) about to be pummeled by a brainwashed Pat Dugan (Luke Wilson) in his S.T.R.I.P.E. armor, the villains mere minutes away from taking over half of America, and our heroes in the young Justice Society very much out of their depths.
“I feel like there’s so much chaos, in these last two episodes in particular,” Bassinger teased to Decider about the last two episodes.
That said, other than a pair of fights at the top of the episode — Pat vs Sportsmaster (Neil Hopkins), and Courtney vs Tigress (Joy Osmanski) — the first hour was, in a way, the calm before the storm as the heroes all gathered together to finally figure out what the villains in the Injustice Society of America have been up to.
Turns out, it’s nothing good. The ISA is going to brainwash half of America seemingly for good reasons: they want to combat global warming, eliminate racism, and the kicker, create Universal Health Care. Only problem? Once they activate their machine, it’s going to kill at least 25% of the people involved. With 100 million as the test case, you do the math. And even worse news? The machine affects adults only, leaving the kids on their own to save America… And maybe the world.
With all that in mind, we chatted with Bassinger about the episode, the big action scenes, and what she hopes might happen in Season 2.
Decider: Every single interview I’ve done, it comes up what a tight bond you all had on set… This is really the first episode where you have all the good guys in-the-know, in one place at the same time. What was it like actually filming the cabin scenes, having everybody there simultaneously?
Brec Bassinger: Okay. Those were so fun. But also, that cabin scene specifically was so intimidating. When you have that many people on set, that long of a scene, that important — it took so much planning. That one scene where we’re coming up with a game plan basically took a whole day to film. But it was so rewarding to finally have everyone there. I’ve done scenes separately with everyone this season, but to really have what I felt like was my whole team there together. It was so rewarding.
Do you feel like in moments like that you move into a leadership role, on set as well as in character?
Sure! I feel like I do. Only in that looking back throughout the season, Episode 4, where we really introduce Wildcat, Yvette would come onto set. And while she would have a couple of scenes on set, she didn’t know the whole crew by name yet. So just simple things like that, where I would introduce her to everyone and make sure she knew everyone’s name. I felt a leadership role in those ways. But also, you’ve talked to my cast. They’re so great and so talented. We all learned different things from each other.
Let’s talk about that phenomenal fight with Tigress at the beginning of the episode.
[Gasps] Yeah!
The move where Courtney is fighting Tigress, and Amy Smart is being whipped around on the staff…
I love that! I love that. They are so creative with the staff work. It’s not just traditional bow staff work. That fight scene is probably my favorite of the whole season. I think it’s so creative and fun. Sorry, I got excited.
No, that’s fine! That’s basically what I was going to ask you, what it was like choreographing and working that out on set. Particularly given that you got to wreck half the house during that fight.
Yeah. Well we have what’s called a “pre-vis”… Basically it’s like a video game version of the fight scene. And then our stunt coordinator, he pre-films it with his stunt team. Going into it, we know exactly what the fight scene is going to look like. We have a shot list, we’re shown this is the shot we’re getting. So very, very planned out.
But it was really fun to have Amy there, because it was her first time really getting to be part of the action. She killed it. The thing that was so fun was Amy crashing the plant on Tigress’s head. That was — it was a stunt vase, but it was practical. She actually was smashing a vase over her head. And that was probably the scariest part. We put so much time on that, just for planning. We only had two vases, so we only had two takes to do it. But it turned out great, it was so fun. Amy loved it.
We find out this episode that Cameron isn’t in the loop on the ISA’s plan at all. His father is keeping him out of it. With him in the clear, are we going to start to see any romance bubble up between the two of you? Or is it too late in the season at this point for any of that sort of stuff?
This season, I feel like it doesn’t dive into it too much. But with that second season pick up, the options are endless.
On that note as well, it’s kind of refreshing to watch a superhero show that mostly back-burners romance. Certainly we’ve had Pat and Barbara dealing with it, and we’ve had little teases here and there, but I’m curious to hear your take on it… Were you expecting to be more shipping?
I’ve spoken to Geoff about this, and I really love his perspective, so I’m going to take that on. He said when writing, when you have a relationship with labels, the only place for that, story-wise, for that to go is a break-up. And there’s so much going on. I feel like that storyline has been done so much. With the DC Universe, the options are endless. Why would we focus on a storyline that’s seen so much, when we can be putting that on the back-burner, like you said? Still have those moments of real — because our show has so much heart. But then, focus on these crazy action scenes and stuff. I like it. Just because I feel like there’s opportunities to see that later. Where what I’m doing now, there’s other things we can focus on.
To that end, there’s a lot of focus on the relationship between Courtney and Mikey in this episode. It feels like they reach a bit of an understanding by the end. Have they moved past their conflict at this point? Or is that something that’s always going to bubble up because their siblings?
I grew up with two older brothers, so maybe I’m a little biased. I love my brothers endlessly, but there’s always that little sibling rivalry. I think that just comes natural. I’ve never had a step-sibling, so I can’t speak true to that. But I imagine it would be similar.
What can you, if anything, tease about the finale? There’s obviously a lot that could potentially go down beyond the main plot. You’ve got several ticking time bombs — Grundy and Shiv, for example.
What I’ve said from the beginning: I feel like there’s so much chaos, in these last two episodes in particular, with Grundy, with Shiv. Ugh. Oh my gosh. Okay, this is really fun. So there’s actually a scene that was originally written in the pilot. But it didn’t make sense yet. It’s in this, it’s the very, very last scene of the season. It’s so beautiful. Be expecting lots of chaos, when it comes to the villain/hero stuff. But then also, when it comes to Pat and Courtney, there’s some really great [scenes].
Before I let you go, given that you do have this Season 2 pick up, what are you hoping for? What do you want to see?
I’d like to see the continual development of the JSA. Something I’ve loved about this first season is: we weren’t great heroes from the beginning. We failed, we got our butts kicked. But we grew. I want us to be able to continue that growth.
I know Yvette is hoping to get Sylvester Stallone on as the original Wildcat, that’s what she’s kind of gunning for.
[Gasps] Oh, that would be cool. Okay, I’m stealing her answer. I hope for that too. [Laughs]
This interview has been edited for length and content.
Where to watch DC's Stargirl


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--NBA having problems holding ‘Delete 8’ camp that would include Knicks

Knicks GM Scott Perry didn ’ t know Tom Thibodeau .
And he ...

Tom Thibodeau still hasn’t gotten his first wish as head coach.
A stalemate still exists between the players association and NBA on an agreement regarding organized team activities (OTA) for the “Delete 8,’’ according to multiple sources.
The union still is apprehensive about health/testing protocols that meet the standards of the Orlando restart bubble that has been a success. A conference call with the eight teams out of the Orlando restart gained no traction Tuesday.
The Post reported in late June the union was against having teams stage mandatory mini-camps at their own training facilities without any bubble element. However, reports stated the union would be open to a bubble situation in one city for the eight teams to scrimmage. The Post reported any activities would be voluntary.
Charlotte and the Knicks are at the forefront in hoping for mini-camps at their own facilities. The Knicks, who want to evaluate their slew of young players, aren’t in favor of games. The Charlotte Observer reported an agreement would be reached by last week. That hasn’t happened yet.
“Every week it’s something different,’’ one coach from a Delete 8 team told The Post. “The players association just keeps getting involved. I call it 50-50. But we can’t go eight, nine months without anything.
Talks are still ongoing, but sources believe the NBA and union are still focused on the Orlando restart and making sure it continues to go smoothly. Knicks GM Scott Perry said Thursday he’s working with the league on mini-camp talks and sounded like it would happen.
“It’s not just the time away from X’s and O’s,’’ the coach from a Delete 8 team said. “It’s physically to not play full-court basketball for nine months and get into an NBA season is not good.”
The expected training camp date for next season is Nov. 9. The Knicks played their last game March 11. Under prior NBA rules, the Knicks can still host players at their Tarrytown facility for individual workouts only — of which Thibodeau plans to take advantage.
“If Orlando continues to go well, the league will be able to put their guard down and devote time to the rest of us,’’ the coach said. “All resources are going to the 22 teams in the bubble.’’


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Judge Judy sued over Les Moonves sale of her show’s ‘library rights’

Judge Judy Sheindlin is putting her money where her mouth is , literally .
Sheindlin — who makes $ 47 million a year , and is ending her blockbuster run on “ Judge Judy ” after 25 seasons this year — has been hit with a lawsuit by Rebel Entertainment Partners alleging that she stiffed the company out of profits when she bought and sold the show ’ s library rights in a deal with CBS in 2015 .
But Sheindlin told us in response to the suit , referring to Rebel Entertainment president Richard Lawrence : “ I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only comment on what I have read which suggests that I am being sued for ‘ breach of contract.
’ If that is the basis of Mr. Lawrence ’ s lawsuit , here is my challenge : If Mr. Lawrence can produce a contract , signed by me and Mr. Lawrence on the same page , at any time in history from the beginning of time , I will toast that contract , smear it with cream cheese and eat it on national television.
” The suit against Sheindlin , CBS and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest in a long-simmering legal war involving Rebel and the show .
Rebel has reportedly previously settled a suit with CBS alleging that it was shorted from profits stemming from Sheindlin ’ s salary that were improperly deducted as expenses .
( Rebel is the company that succeeded the talent agency that originally packaged “ Judge Judy.
” ) Now Rebel says it ’ s owed money from the sale of the show ’ s library , and the new suit even alleges incompetency on the part of disgraced CBS mogul Les Moonves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , Moonves and his loyal lieutenant [ Armando ] Nuñez seriously underestimated the value of the library and sold the rights to these episodes to series star Judith Sheindlin for a song , ” the suit states .
The suit alleges that Moonves then covered his tracks by buying the rights for between $ 95 million and $ 99 million to avoid scrutiny since only purchases over $ 100 million would need approval .
The suit adds , “ Now that Viacom is in a position to oversee the behavior of CBS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new leadership it installed to make a sincere effort to right the wrongful conduct that has been a systemic problem at CBS.
” The library sale is also the subject of another ongoing suit brought by “ Judge Judy ” co-creators Kaye Switzer and the trust of the late Sandi Spreckman against CBS .
CBS did not comment .
Rebel did not immediately get back to us .

Judge Judy Sheindlin is putting her money where her mouth is, literally.
Sheindlin — who makes $47 million a year, and is ending her blockbuster run on “Judge Judy” after 25 seasons this year — has been hit with a lawsuit by Rebel Entertainment Partners alleging that she stiffed the company out of profits when she bought and sold the show’s library rights in a deal with CBS in 2015.
But Sheindlin told us in response to the suit, referring to Rebel Entertainment president Richard Lawrence: “I have not seen the complaint and can therefore only comment on what I have read which suggests that I am being sued for ‘breach of contract.’ If that is the basis of Mr. Lawrence’s lawsuit, here is my challenge: If Mr. Lawrence can produce a contract, signed by me and Mr. Lawrence on the same page, at any time in history from the beginning of time, I will toast that contract, smear it with cream cheese and eat it on national television.”
The suit against Sheindlin, CBS and its Big Ticket Entertainment division is just the latest in a long-simmering legal war involving Rebel and the show. Rebel has reportedly previously settled a suit with CBS alleging that it was shorted from profits stemming from Sheindlin’s salary that were improperly deducted as expenses. (Rebel is the company that succeeded the talent agency that originally packaged “Judge Judy.”)
Now Rebel says it’s owed money from the sale of the show’s library, and the new suit even alleges incompetency on the part of disgraced CBS mogul Les Moonves in the library sale.
“In 2015, Moonves and his loyal lieutenant [Armando] Nuñez seriously underestimated the value of the library and sold the rights to these episodes to series star Judith Sheindlin for a song,” the suit states. The suit alleges that Moonves then covered his tracks by buying the rights for between $95 million and $99 million to avoid scrutiny since only purchases over $100 million would need approval.
The suit adds, “Now that Viacom is in a position to oversee the behavior of CBS leadership, it is time for the new leadership it installed to make a sincere effort to right the wrongful conduct that has been a systemic problem at CBS.”
The library sale is also the subject of another ongoing suit brought by “Judge Judy” co-creators Kaye Switzer and the trust of the late Sandi Spreckman against CBS.
CBS did not comment. Rebel did not immediately get back to us.


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Navy finds human remains on sunken Marine tank off Southern California

One US Marine was killed , two others were injured — ...

The Navy on Tuesday located an amphibious tank that sank off the Southern California coast last week and is preparing to recover the human remains of troops believed to have been on board.
Seven Marines and one Navy sailor went missing when the 26-ton vehicle sank on Thursday just a mile from San Clemente Island off San Diego’s coast.
Navy officials said they have found the vehicle 385 feet underwater and that human remains have been identified onboard using remote-controlled video technology that surveyed the wreck.
The Navy will now work to place equipment down by the sunken vehicle to begin recovering the bodies by the end of the week. The tank will be pulled out of the water after the remains are brought to shore.
Fifteen Marines and one Navy sailor were on board and had just finished a routine training exercise when the tank sank. In addition to the troops that have been listed as missing, another Marine was pronounced dead at the scene and seven others were rescued.
Two Marines that were rescued were still hospitalized recovering from their injuries as of Tuesday.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of eight Marines and one Sailor during a training exercise off the coast of California,” President Trump tweeted Tuesday. “Our prayers are with their families. I thank them for the brave service their loved ones gave to our Nation. #SemperFidelis.”
The tragedy has forced the Marine Corps to ban waterborne activity among all 800 of its amphibious vehicles until it identifies what caused the accident.
The type of vehicle, nicknamed “amtrac” for amphibious tractor, has been used since 1972 to transport troops and equipment from ships to land. It was built with three water-tight hatches and two additional troop hatches.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Young people fueling rise in COVID-19 cases, WHO says

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Youngsters hitting nightclubs and beaches have sparked an uptick in coronavirus cases around the globe , the World Health Organization said .
The proportion of people between the ages of 15 and 24 infected with COVID-19 has risen three-fold in about five months , according to the United Nations health agency .
“ We ’ ve said this before and we ’ ll say it again : young people are not invincible , ” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected ; young people can die ; and young people can transmit the virus to others.
” An analysis by the WHO of 6 million infections between Feb. 24 and July 12 found that the share of people aged 15-24 years rose from 4.5 % to 15 % .
Among those aged 5-14 years , about 4.6 % were infected , up from 0.8 % , between those dates , the agency said .
European countries including Spain , Germany and France — along with Asian countries such as Japan and Vietnam — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected are young people .
That ’ s also the case for the United States , which leads the global tally with 4.8 million total infections , the organization said .
“ Younger people tend to be less vigilant about masking and social distancing , ” Neysa Ernst , nurse manager at Johns Hopkins Hospital ’ s biocontainment unit told Reuters .
“ Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19 , ” she said , adding youths are more likely to go to bars or the beach , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts have urged young people to socially distance , wear masks and avoid crowds , noting that those without symptoms can spread the virus , too .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Youngsters hitting nightclubs and beaches have sparked an uptick in coronavirus cases around the globe, the World Health Organization said.
The proportion of people between the ages of 15 and 24 infected with COVID-19 has risen three-fold in about five months, according to the United Nations health agency.
“We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again: young people are not invincible,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters last week.
“Young people can be infected; young people can die; and young people can transmit the virus to others.”
An analysis by the WHO of 6 million infections between Feb. 24 and July 12 found that the share of people aged 15-24 years rose from 4.5% to 15%.
Among those aged 5-14 years, about 4.6% were infected, up from 0.8%, between those dates, the agency said.
European countries including Spain, Germany and France — along with Asian countries such as Japan and Vietnam — have said that many of the newly infected are young people.
That’s also the case for the United States, which leads the global tally with 4.8 million total infections, the organization said.
“Younger people tend to be less vigilant about masking and social distancing,” Neysa Ernst, nurse manager at Johns Hopkins Hospital’s biocontainment unit told Reuters.
“Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19,” she said, adding youths are more likely to go to bars or the beach, as well as to work and grocery stores.
Health experts have urged young people to socially distance, wear masks and avoid crowds, noting that those without symptoms can spread the virus, too.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Cuomo beats back ‘surprise’ AOC challenge to lead NY delegation to DNC

Gov .
Andrew Cuomo easily defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Tuesday in a surprise challenge to determine who will head New York ’ s delegation to the Democratic National Convention .
Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs — a Cuomo ally — fumed that he was “ blindsided ” when a motion was made to nominate AOC to head the delegation during an online Democratic Committee meeting .
Still , Cuomo received 218 votes compared to the 34 votes gleaned by the first-term congresswoman , who represents portions of Queens and The Bronx , Jacobs said “ It was a bad performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote .
She did vote for herself , ” Jacobs said following the meeting .
Jacobs said he was disappointed because he wanted party unity before heading into the convention , which takes place in Milwaukee Aug. 17-20 , though the coronavirus pandemic has scaled back in-person events .
“ It surprised me .
I was blindsided by it .
It was bad faith , ” Jacobs said .
Jacobs said it appeared that “ rogue operators ” were behind the AOC nomination and that he didn ’ t think the congresswoman herself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuomo is considered the de-facto head of the state Democratic Party .
Through a rep , AOC distanced herself from the insurgency .
The spokeswoman noted that AOC didn ’ t even personally participate in the meeting — though a staffer represented her and voted for her to lead New York Democrats at the convention .
“ We didn ’ t want to lead the New York delegation at the DNC convention .
We have no plans to go , ” said Ocasio-Cortez spokeswoman Laurent Hitt .
“ Alexandria was surprised someone nominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone to nominate her .
We did not attempt to whip any votes .
We had no premeditated thoughts about this whatsoever.
” It ’ s not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has faced off with Cuomo .
She helped spearhead opposition to the the abandoned Amazon plan to open a headquarters bordering her district in Queens .
Cuomo negotiated the deal with Amazon , which included billions in subsidies .
She has also criticized for Cuomo for refusing to back higher taxes on the rich to help preserve services for needy New Yorkers @ @ @ @ @ @

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday easily defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s surprise challenge to determine who will head New York’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention.
Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs — a Cuomo ally — fumed that he was “blindsided” when a motion was made to nominate AOC to head the delegation during an online Democratic Committee meeting.
Still, Cuomo received 218 votes compared to the 34 votes gleaned by the first-term congresswoman, who represents portions of Queens and The Bronx, Jacobs said.
“It was a bad performance. AOC got 13 percent of the vote. She did vote for herself,” Jacobs said following the meeting.
Jacobs said he was disappointed because he wanted party unity before heading into the convention, which takes place in Milwaukee Aug. 17-20, though the coronavirus pandemic has scaled back in-person events.
“It surprised me. I was blindsided by it. It was bad faith,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs said it appeared that “rogue operators” were behind the AOC nomination and that he didn’t think the congresswoman herself instigated the challenge.
As governor, Cuomo is considered the de facto head of the state Democratic Party.
Through a rep, AOC distanced herself from the insurgency. The spokeswoman noted that AOC didn’t even personally participate in the meeting — though a staffer represented her and voted for her to lead New York Democrats at the convention.
“We didn’t want to lead the New York delegation at the DNC convention. We have no plans to go,” said Ocasio-Cortez spokeswoman Laurent Hitt.
“Alexandria was surprised someone nominated her. We didn’t ask anyone to nominate her. We did not attempt to whip any votes. We had no premeditated thoughts about this whatsoever.”
It’s not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has faced off with Cuomo. She helped spearhead opposition to the abandoned Amazon plan to open a headquarters bordering her district in Queens. Cuomo negotiated the deal with Amazon, which included billions in subsidies.
She has also criticized Cuomo for refusing to back higher taxes on the rich to help preserve services for needy New Yorkers during the COVID-19 fiscal crisis.


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Maple Leafs’ Jake Muzzin responsive after taken off on stretcher

TORONTO — Auston Matthews and John Tavares scored and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Tuesday to even their best-of-five qualifying series at one game .
Toronto defenseman Jake Muzzin was taken off the ice on a stretcher with 1:52 left in the game after his head made contact with Columbus ’ Oliver Bjorkstrand behind the Blue Jackets net .
Muzzin was attended to by a trainer before more medical personnel arrived on the ice .
He was taken to a hospital , but there was no immediate word on his condition .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keefe said .
“ We ’ re just awaiting the assessment.
” After he went down Scotiabank Arena fell silent , which seemed even more eerie with no fans in the stands .
“ It ’ s difficult , seeing a guy like Jake who is very well-loved in the locker room , being as tough as ( he is ) being told to lay down and not move , ” Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen said .
“ So we ’ re really thinking about him and making sure all the right steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recover soon.
” Andersen made 20 saves for his third career playoff shutout , and Morgan Rielly added an empty-net goal with 43 seconds left .

TORONTO — Auston Matthews and John Tavares scored and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Tuesday to even their best-of-five qualifying series at one game.
Toronto defenseman Jake Muzzin was taken off the ice on a stretcher with 1:52 left in the game after his head made contact with Columbus’ Oliver Bjorkstrand behind the Blue Jackets net. Muzzin was attended to by a trainer before more medical personnel arrived on the ice. He was taken to a hospital, but there was no immediate word on his condition.
“He was responsive,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We’re just awaiting the assessment.”
After he went down Scotiabank Arena fell silent, which seemed even more eerie with no fans in the stands.
“It’s difficult, seeing a guy like Jake who is very well-loved in the locker room, being as tough as (he is) being told to lay down and not move,” Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen said. “So we’re really thinking about him and making sure all the right steps are taken and hopefully he’ll recover soon.”
Andersen made 20 saves for his third career playoff shutout, and Morgan Rielly added an empty-net goal with 43 seconds left.


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--New York college students must pass a COVID-19 test to enter campus

The New York Times surveyed hundreds of colleges from Connecticut ...

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Students enrolled at New York’s public colleges must first pass a COVID-19 test in order to get access to campus in a bid to prevent the spread of the contagious virus.
The State University at Albany and Stony Brook University sent notices to students saying they have to provide proof of having tested negative for the coronavirus before arrival on campus later this month for the fall semester.
“Given reported delays for COVID-19 test results and lack of testing availability in some areas, all University at Albany students should be tested as soon as possible in order to have results prior to the beginning of fall classes,” Michael Christakis, vice president of student affairs, said in a “Dear Great Dane” letter to students.
“If a student living on campus fails to provide the University proof of a negative test or NYS Department of Health clearance document (for students who have had documented COVID-19) before their arrival on campus, they will not be permitted to check in to their residence hall or apartment,” warned Christakis.
“Until students have a negative test result in hand, they should remain at home.”
Stony Brook officials said passing the COVID-19 test is just the first step during the fall semester to keep the killer bug at bay.
“YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO MOVE INTO CAMPUS HOUSING UNLESS YOU PRODUCE A COVID-19 PCR NEGATIVE TEST RESULT AND PROVIDE THAT TEST RESULT AT CHECK-IN,” the letter to Stony Brook students said.
The letter said private health insurance should cover the costs of testing, which is also offered free of charge by local health departments.
Stony Brook students will also be monitored and required to complete a “daily electronic screener” to track COVID-19 related symptoms during the semester.
“If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or a temperature that is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius, you will be directed to contact Student Health Services for an evaluation and a determination if you need to have a COVID-19 PCR test,” said the letter to students sent by Rick Gatteau, Stony Brook’s vice president for student affairs.
“In addition to testing that is required as a result of symptoms, we will conduct ongoing testing during the semester to ensure our community remains safe and healthy.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order in March that emptied the college campuses and required students to take online courses from home for the remainder of the spring semester to help stem the spread of COVID-19 as the pandemic hit New York hard. Space at Stony Brook and other SUNY and CUNY campuses was also set aside for the public health emergency.
The crisis has receded in New York. But college officials have a tricky challenge of welcoming thousands of students back to campus without triggering another outbreak.


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Andy Greene comes up big for Islanders in Game 2 win

The Panthers made adjustments to their lineup that made a ...

The fact veteran defenseman Andy Greene was a healthy scratch in Game 1 of the Islanders’ best-of-five play-in series against the Panthers says a lot about the team’s depth on defense.
Greene, acquired in a trade from the Devils in February, made his series debut Tuesday after Johnny Boychuk was deemed unfit to play following a late and high hit in the second period Saturday.
“Andy is a real true pro,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said on a Zoom call following the 4-2 win over the Panthers on Tuesday. “When we acquired him, we acquired him to play big minutes and that was a very difficult decision not to start him in Game 1. I felt strongly, when it was all set and done, that the traditional Islanders get the first crack at it. Andy came in and is now an Islander, when Johnny went down it’s a great replacement.”
Playing on the right side of Nick Leddy on Tuesday, Greene looked like a defenseman with 50 playoff games under his belt. He earned a secondary assist after pinching on the right side of the ice to send the puck back in to Tom Kuhnhackl, who dished it to Matt Martin for Islanders’ first tally of the night at 6:12 of the second.
“It’s a read I had there, I felt like we had good coverage over behind me and got a good stick on it, obviously they did the rest,” he said. “It’s always nice when you can come in and contribute whether it’s, not necessarily in points but for me, it’s on the PK and being a calming presence out there.”
Trotz opted to roll with four left-handed defenseman (Greene, Leddy, Adam Pelech and Devon Toews) and two righties (Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield). It was Greene who was challenged with skating on the right side, something he said he hadn’t done in a while.
“I have played it, but it’s been quite a few years,” the 37-year-old Greene said. “With playing on your offside there, it’s really important to make sure you’re in good position, you know what you’re doing with the puck and you’re always constantly shoulder checking because obviously you’ve got that blind side there to your right.
“Been in all these situations before, over my career I was a healthy scratch in the playoffs so I know what to expect when this happens.”
Trotz had emphasized just how important the Islanders’ special teams were going to be against the Panthers, and that proved to be the case early in Game 2.
The Islanders went 2-for-7 with the man-advantage Tuesday afternoon, bringing the team’s total power-play goals this series to three following Anthony Beauvillier’s game-deciding power-play goal in Saturday’s win.
“What you’re finding is our power play is getting a little bit of confidence, they’re trusting that they don’t have to be as fancy,” Trotz said.
The Panthers were called for eight total penalties, including a 10-minute game misconduct to Brian Boyle for getting into it with Scott Mayfield, who only received a two-minute roughing penalty for the kerfuffle. But being on the penalty kill so much tired the Panthers, who only had four man-advantage opportunities.
“I think when it comes to the playoffs, special teams is so key,” Pulock said. “They got a pretty lethal power play over there and we as a power play got to try and get ourselves a goal when we can or just get some momentum. Obviously tonight some big goals and I think even when we didn’t score we were able to get some momentum and take some control over.”
Panthers defenseman Mike Matheson was fined $2,500 for high-sticking Brock Nelson at 6:18 of the first period, the league announced following the game. It was called a double minor and put Matheson in the box for four minutes. Just over nine minutes later, Matheson was penalized again for tripping Josh Bailey.


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--We need a vaccine for Dems’ COVID lies

We need a vaccine for Dems’ COVID lies

Beware of three widely circulating coronavirus lies — and the partisan motives behind them .
These lies are dangerous to our children and hinder our communities ’ ability to cope with this virus .
Lie No .
1 : “ The United States ’ response stands out as among the worst of any country.
” House Majority Whip James Clyburn leveled that charge as he kicked off a hearing into this virus Friday .
Yet a staggering 183,639 Europeans have died from the virus as of Monday .
Deaths per capita have been far higher in Britain , Spain and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Johns Hopkins University researchers .
After a lull , cases are spiking in several European countries .
That hasn ’ t stopped New York Times columnist Paul Krugman from asking : “ Why Can ’ t Trump ’ s America Be Like Italy ?
” Is he crazy ?
A patient with coronavirus has faced three times the risk of dying from it in Italy as in America , Johns Hopkins data indicate .
Lie No .
2 : Clyburn accused Team Trump of “ rushing into reopening the schools ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Sorry , but the experts want schools to reopen .
At the hearing , expert witnesses Anthony Fauci , from the National Institutes of Health , and Robert Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , were emphatic .
Redfield itemized the dangers — delayed learning , social isolation , undetected child abuse and even adolescent suicide — from school closings .
And he called attention to his agency ’ s blueprint for reopening schools safely , down to how to space the desks and handle lunch time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a smaller risk to children than ordinary flu , for which schools never close .
And children under age 10 are unlikely to infect family members , based on data from Switzerland , Iceland and South Korea .
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Academies of Sciences , Engineering and Medicine are urging that at least grades K-5 reopen .
These are where remote learning is least feasible and infecting family members is unlikely .
Contrary to this science , the Democratic Party and teachers ’ unions are demanding schools stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and parents hostage — in the latter ’ s case , while getting paid to do exactly zilch .
A New Zealand study found that infected students never infect their teachers .
Yet New York City teachers are taking to the streets , marching with coffins and skeletons .
They ’ re frauds .
Transit workers , cops and firefighters are showing up for work — despite the real dangers they confront .
On “ Face the Nation ” Sunday , Clyburn shamelessly repeated his false claim that schools can ’ t reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a safety plan .
But there is a detailed plan , and it can be found on the CDC ’ s Web site .
Lie No .
3 : Clyburn accused the Trump administration of having no “ comprehensive national strategy ” to combat the virus .
The truth is , since March , these agencies have produced thousands of pages of detailed action plans .
I ’ ve read them .
You might disagree with some details , as I do , but to insist there is no plan is preposterous .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking point .
No surprise , The New York Times is parroting it , claiming in a July 30 editorial that a “ coherent response ” has been missing for months .
At Friday ’ s hearing , Fauci laid out the administration ’ s vaccine strategy , optimistically predicting a safe , effective vaccine before the end of 2020 .
Redfield ranged over plans for workplaces , schools , nursing homes and childcare centers .
Despite the virus surging in many states , Redfield testified that if Americans wholeheartedly embrace five measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing , avoiding crowds and protecting the elderly — we can get this virus under control , without shutdowns .
That ’ s an important message .
Look out for a fourth lie being concocted now : namely , that the administration is cutting corners on safety to deliver a vaccine before the election .
Fauci assured Congress several times it isn ’ t true .
But The New York Times published a news story Monday implying as much , without evidence , just peddling innuendo and mostly anonymous sources .
That lie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost many lives .
It ’ s the most dangerous of all .
Betsy McCaughey is author of the new book “ The Next Pandemic .
”

Beware of three widely circulating coronavirus lies — and the partisan motives behind them. These lies are dangerous to our children and hinder our communities’ ability to cope with this virus.
Lie No. 1: “The United States’ response stands out as among the worst of any country.” House Majority Whip James Clyburn leveled that charge as he kicked off a hearing into this virus Friday.
Yet a staggering 183,639 Europeans have died from the virus as of Monday. Deaths per capita have been far higher in Britain, Spain and Italy than in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers. After a lull, cases are spiking in several European countries.
That hasn’t stopped New York Times columnist Paul Krugman from asking: “Why Can’t Trump’s America Be Like Italy?” Is he crazy? A patient with coronavirus has faced three times the risk of dying from it in Italy as in America, Johns Hopkins data indicate.
Lie No. 2: Clyburn accused Team Trump of “rushing into reopening the schools” against the “advice of public-health experts.” Sorry, but the experts want schools to reopen.
At the hearing, expert witnesses Anthony Fauci, from the National Institutes of Health, and Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were emphatic. Redfield itemized the dangers — delayed learning, social isolation, undetected child abuse and even adolescent suicide — from school closings. And he called attention to his agency’s blueprint for reopening schools safely, down to how to space the desks and handle lunch time.
The CDC reports that COVID-19 poses a smaller risk to children than ordinary flu, for which schools never close. And children under age 10 are unlikely to infect family members, based on data from Switzerland, Iceland and South Korea.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine are urging that at least grades K-5 reopen. These are where remote learning is least feasible and infecting family members is unlikely.
Contrary to this science, the Democratic Party and teachers’ unions are demanding schools stay closed. They’re holding kids and parents hostage — in the latter’s case, while getting paid to do exactly zilch.
A New Zealand study found that infected students never infect their teachers. Yet New York City teachers are taking to the streets, marching with coffins and skeletons. They’re frauds.
Transit workers, cops and firefighters are showing up for work — despite the real dangers they confront.
On “Face the Nation” Sunday, Clyburn shamelessly repeated his false claim that schools can’t reopen because the administration doesn’t have a safety plan. But there is a detailed plan, and it can be found on the CDC’s Web site.
Lie No. 3: Clyburn accused the Trump administration of having no “comprehensive national strategy” to combat the virus. The truth is, since March, these agencies have produced thousands of pages of detailed action plans. I’ve read them. You might disagree with some details, as I do, but to insist there is no plan is preposterous.
Yet that’s the Democrats’ talking point. No surprise, The New York Times is parroting it, claiming in a July 30 editorial that a “coherent response” has been missing for months.
At Friday’s hearing, Fauci laid out the administration’s vaccine strategy, optimistically predicting a safe, effective vaccine before the end of 2020. Redfield ranged over plans for workplaces, schools, nursing homes and childcare centers.
Despite the virus surging in many states, Redfield testified that if Americans wholeheartedly embrace five measures — masks, hand hygiene, social distancing, avoiding crowds and protecting the elderly — we can get this virus under control, without shutdowns. That’s an important message.
Look out for a fourth lie being concocted now: namely, that the administration is cutting corners on safety to deliver a vaccine before the election. Fauci assured Congress several times it isn’t true. But The New York Times published a news story Monday implying as much, without evidence, just peddling innuendo and mostly anonymous sources. That lie could dissuade people from getting vaccinated and cost many lives.
It’s the most dangerous of all.
Betsy McCaughey is author of the new book “The Next Pandemic.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-04--Teachers and their unions have been anything but heroes amid COVID-19

The president of the American Federation of Teachers warned Wednesday ...

No other group has shown as much contempt for its own work during the coronavirus crisis as teachers.
Their unions are actively fighting to keep kids out of classrooms and to limit remote instruction, lest it require too much time and attention from people who are supposed to be wholly devoted to educating our children.
This has been a wrenching time in the labor market, with tens of millions thrown out of work — and also an inspiring one. Workers whom many of us would never have thought of as essential — grocery clerks, delivery guys, meat-packing workers — have kept absolutely necessary parts of the economy operating while most of their fellow Americans stayed home.
Doctors, health workers, cops and firefighters have all put their lives on the line.
It isn’t correct to say that all these people have done their jobs uncomplainingly — many have worried, understandably, about their safety and wanted more protections. But all have shown up. All have been there, during the horrific spring outbreak, during a brief respite and during the current summer resurgence.
Anyone who doesn’t acknowledge our debt to them is a thoughtless ingrate.
Then, there are the teachers unions.
Theirs has been a diametrically opposed approach to that of the everyday heroes of America. Their first and last thought has been of their own interests. They have sought to limit their labor while still getting paid — at the ultimate cost of the education of kids who may never fully make up the gaps in their learning during their time out of the classroom.
Obviously, any gathering of people has its risks, and school districts should make every reasonable accommodation to the realities of the pandemic. There are many teachers who are better than their unions — or not members of a union at all — and some are truly at high risk from the virus.
All of this is true enough, and yet the unions have represented institutional laziness and selfishness at a time of incredible strain for parents across the country.
The unions have a handy foil in President Trump, who has taken up the cause of school reopening with his usual deftness, which is to say, none at all.
But it shouldn’t require wearing a MAGA hat to acknowledge the benefits of in-person instruction, and the experience of other advanced countries suggests it carries low risks.
The American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement in June saying that it “strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.” (As a rebuke to Trump, it issued a subsequent statement with the biggest teachers unions saying politics should be kept out of reopening decisions.)
The New York Times has cited research suggesting that the cancellation of classes in the spring cost students a significant portion of their learning for the year, and they might be seven months behind the curve. Online learning, especially for younger kids, is a poor substitute for being in the classroom, and many districts didn’t even offer that.
As states and localities try to avoid a repeat of that debacle, many unions are throwing every obstacle in the way. In California, the unions pushed to delay students coming back to the classroom; in Los Angeles, the union has been negotiating to limit the time teachers spend on online instruction, too.
Unions around the country have offered endless excuses why they can’t even do a simulacrum of their job. Teachers might be abashed about their appearance teaching by video from home. The privacy of teachers might be violated if video instruction is recorded for use by parents and their kids at a convenient time. Teachers can’t handle simultaneous classroom and video instruction.
If the teachers unions get their way, teachers’ letter grade during this crisis will a shameful “incomplete.”
Twitter: @RichLowry


newyorkpost--2020-08-05--Beirut explosion reportedly caused by fertilizer seized from Russian businessman

The 2,700 tons of fertilizer believed to have caused the explosion that devastated Beirut had been confiscated from a Russian businessman — who “ abandoned ” his cargo ship after an unscheduled stop , according to reports .
Officials revealed Tuesday that the blast that killed at least 100 — and left up to 300,000 homeless — appeared to have been sparked by ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse since it was confiscated in 2014 .
There were repeated warnings to the dangers of storing it — including one that it could “ blow up all of Beirut ” — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official sources told Reuters , calling it “ negligence.
” The timeline and size of the cargo suggest it was taken from the MV Rhosus , according to the Associated Press , as well as Lebanon ’ s LBCI , citing sources at a Supreme Defense Council meeting .
The Rhosus is owned by Igor Grechushkin , a Russian national who now lives in Cyprus , according to The Moscow Times .
It had been traveling from Georgia to Mozambique in 2013 when it experienced an apparent malfunction and made an unscheduled stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grechushkin then declared bankruptcy — and “ abandoned ” the ship in Lebanon , leaving its crew stranded on the vessel for months before the ammonium nitrate could be offloaded , the Moscow Times said .
The ammonium nitrate had been stored in a warehouse in the port of Beirut since then , the outlet said .
“ Owing to the risks associated with retaining the ammonium nitrate on board the vessel , the port authorities discharged the cargo onto the port ’ s warehouses , ” lawyers involved in the case previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The vessel and cargo remain to date in port awaiting auctioning and/or proper disposal , ” the lawyers said in the 2015 article .
Grechushkin does not appear to have addressed the link , reports said .
It also remains unclear what conditions the ammonium nitrate had been stored in — or why tons of an explosive chemical compound had been left there for years , AP noted .
“ It is negligence , ” an official source told Reuters , adding that the storage safety issue had been before several committees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to issue an order to remove or dispose of the highly combustible material .
A fire had started at warehouse 9 of the port and spread to warehouse 12 , where the ammonium nitrate was stored , the official said .
Badri Daher , Director General of Lebanese Customs , told broadcaster LBCI on Wednesday that customs had sent six documents to the judiciary warning that the material posed a danger .
“ We requested that it be re-exported but that did not happen .
We leave it to the experts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daher said .

The 2,700 tons of fertilizer believed to have caused the explosion that devastated Beirut had been confiscated from a Russian businessman — who “abandoned” his cargo ship after an unscheduled stop, according to reports.
Officials revealed Tuesday that the blast that killed at least 100 — and left up to 300,000 homeless — appeared to have been sparked by ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse since it was confiscated in 2014.
There were repeated warnings on the dangers of storing it — including one that it could “blow up all of Beirut” — but “nothing was done,” official sources told Reuters, calling it “negligence.”
The timeline and size of the cargo suggest it was taken from the MV Rhosus, according to the Associated Press, as well as Lebanon’s LBCI, citing sources at a Supreme Defense Council meeting.
The Rhosus is owned by Igor Grechushkin, a Russian national who now lives in Cyprus, according to the Moscow Times.
It had been traveling from Georgia to Mozambique in 2013 when it experienced an apparent malfunction and made an unscheduled stop in Beirut, the reports said.
Grechushkin then declared bankruptcy — and “abandoned” the ship in Lebanon, leaving its crew stranded on the vessel for months before the ammonium nitrate could be offloaded, the Moscow Times said.
The ammonium nitrate had been stored in a warehouse in the port of Beirut since then, the outlet said.
“Owing to the risks associated with retaining the ammonium nitrate on board the vessel, the port authorities discharged the cargo onto the port’s warehouses,” lawyers involved in the case previously wrote, according to the AP.
“The vessel and cargo remain to date in port awaiting auctioning and/or proper disposal,” the lawyers said in the 2015 article.
Grechushkin does not appear to have addressed the link, reports said.
It also remains unclear what conditions the ammonium nitrate had been stored in — or why tons of an explosive chemical compound had been left there for years, AP noted.
“It is negligence,” an official source told Reuters, adding that the storage safety issue had been before several committees and judges and “nothing was done” in terms of issuing an order to remove or dispose of the highly combustible material.
A fire had started at warehouse 9 of the port and spread to warehouse 12, where the ammonium nitrate was stored, the official said.
Badri Daher, director general of Lebanese customs, told broadcaster LBCI on Wednesday that customs had sent six documents to the judiciary warning that the material posed a danger.
“We requested that it be re-exported but that did not happen. We leave it to the experts and those concerned to determine why,” Daher said.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-08-05--Texas teacher charged with having sex with 15-year-old student

A city commissioner in Texas whose girlfriend and her 4-year-old ...

A Texas teacher is charged with having sex with a 15-year-old male student — just months after she started working at a high school, court records show.
Hailey Pardy, a 25-year-old former math teacher at Bastrop High School, was arrested Thursday by Round Rock police following her indictment by a grand jury for allegedly having an improper relationship with a student, a second-degree felony, the Austin American-Statesman reports.
Pardy, then 23, had sex with the teen student on Dec. 1, 2018, police said.
Administrators at the public school got an anonymous tip some nine months later — in August 2019 — about the alleged sexual relationship between the pair, and Hardy was put on paid administrative leave the same day, the newspaper reports.
She was fired by the Bastrop school board in a unanimous vote in November.
Pardy, of Shiner, started working in the school district in August 2018 — just months prior to the alleged incident. She was earning an annual salary of $48,383, school district documents show.
“The action of this teacher does not represent the more than 1,300 caring, dedicated and talented educators who make up Bastrop ISD,” district spokesman Kristi Lee said. “The foundation of the teacher-student relationship is one of trust, and when that trust is violated, it angers and saddens us.”
Pardy graduated from Texas State University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and won the Texas State Academic Distinction Award for math that same year, according to a 2018 report in the Shiner Gazette.
Pardy was released from the Bastrop County jail after posting $100,000 bond, the Statesman-American reports. It’s unclear if she’s hired an attorney. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.


newyorkpost--2020-08-05--Kirk Cousins talks ‘mermaids’ on Kyle Brandt’s new Spotify podcast

In a wide-ranging interview on Kyle Brandt ’ s new Ringer podcast , ...

Aaron Rodgers isn’t the only NFL star in Kyle Brandt’s hot seat.
On Wednesday, Aug. 12, The Ringer’s “10 Questions with Kyle Brandt” podcast will premiere exclusively on Spotify, hosting a series of familiar faces, including Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu, and Chiefs superfan Paul Rudd, The Post can reveal.
“Imagine a podcast where your favorite athlete, your favorite movie star, comes on and answers 10 questions with 10 points available… It’s not just conversation, it’s not just chit-chat, it’s a competition,” Brandt explains in an exclusive new trailer. “You get it right, you get the point… You get it wrong, you get nothing.”
Although “weird” questions will be on the table — “mermaids” is a topic for Cousins — Brandt says they’re meant to open a door into the guests’ lives.
“Each one is somehow connected to their lives, leading to all sorts of insight into their past, their career, and so much more,” Brandt said.
Rodgers, the first guest on Brandt’s podcast, revealed during his Q&A that he started drinking after Green Bay selected Utah State’s Jordan Love in the first round of this year’s draft.
“I love scotch, but I’ve been drinking some sipping tequila as well,” Rodgers said. “Once I got that text I went to the pantry, I poured myself about four fingers, and I knew it was going to be one of those nights where people were going to start calling and there was going to be the, ‘Hey, is everything fine? You OK?’ ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’
“Like I said, I wasn’t elated by the pick especially being one game away from the Super Bowl and feeling like we’re a couple players away, but at the same time I understand it’s a business. I know that the reality,” he continued.
The audio of “10 Questions with Kyle Brandt” will air Wednesdays on Spotify, with video accessible on YouTube.


newyorkpost--2020-08-05--Ex-Google engineer Anthony Levandowski gets 18 months for stealing trade secrets

SAN FRANCISCO — Uber was so driven to “ win at ...

A former Google engineer who stole self-driving car technology for Uber was sentenced this week to 18 months in prison, in what a California judge called the “biggest trade secret crime” he’s ever seen.
US District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco refused to hand out a shorter sentence Tuesday to Anthony Levandowski, because it would have given “a green light to every future brilliant engineer to steal trade secrets,” he said.
The sentencing comes five months after Levandowski, 40, who was ordered to pay $179 million in damages to his former employer — a punishment that resulted in him immediately filing for bankruptcy.
Levandowski allegedly downloaded 14,000 documents from Waymo, Google’s self-driving car subsidiary, in December 2015 as he was about to leave his job there after being poached by then-Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.
After leaving Waymo, Levandowski formed an autonomous trucking company called Otto which was promptly acquired by Uber.
Uber and Waymo eventually settled the dispute to the tune of $245 million, but Levandowski was charged by San Francisco federal prosecutors last August with looting the top-secret files.
Levandowski was facing 33 counts, with a maximum sentence of 10 years apiece, but pleaded guilty to just one, which accused him of downloading to his personal computer a file that tracked technical goals for Google’s self-driving project.
“I downloaded these files with the intent to use them for my own personal benefit, and I understand that I was not authorized to take the files for that purpose,” Levandowski said in court papers.
Levandowski requested one-year confinement at his Marin County home, contending that bouts with pneumonia in recent years would make him susceptible to COVID-19 in prison. His attorneys asked the judge to consider that investigators found no evidence that “Levandowski used any of Google’s trade secrets after leaving Google’s employment.”
Alsup ruled that Levandowski could enter custody once the pandemic has subsided.
The engineer, who now runs self-driving truck company Pronto, apologized to Google and said he plans to share his story of regret with others in the tech industry.
“Today marks the end of three and a half long years and the beginning of another long road ahead,” he said in a statement.
With Post wires.


newyorkpost--2020-08-05--Kelsey Grammer is the Best Part of ‘Money Plane,’ the Zaniest Summer Movie of 2020

I can pinpoint the exact moment in my life when I knew I had to watch the movie Money Plane .
It was when I saw a 15 second-long clip of five-time Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer explaining what a Money Plane is to WWE superstar Edge , aka Adam Copeland : This clip , setting up the very concept of Money Plane , captured my imagination like nothing before .
The specific line , “ You want to bet on a dude fucking an alligator ?
” , rocked the foundations of my world .
I didn ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alligator , much less that the rich and mighty would want to bet on it !
I was so transfixed that I rewatched this clip upwards of 12 times before furiously texting two of the only friends I have in my pandemic bubble : “ WE HAVE TO WATCH MONEY PLANE !
!
!
” And watch it we did… Money Plane is a movie about a casino heist in the skies .
It tells the tale of an ordinary man , Jack Reese ( Copeland ) , charged with leading an impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man named Darius “ The Rumble ” Grouch ( Grammer ) .
It is profane , bizarre , and , at $ 10 to own on VOD , arguably one of the best summer movie deals of 2020 .
However , like the wild bets those bad motherfuckers make in the sky , watching Money Plane is a gamble in and of itself .
Yes , it ’ s a deliciously bad movie — and watching bad movies can be its own brand of fun — but that also means you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Money Plane is the best and worst of what a bad movie experience can be .
It is shameless in its boorish approach to entertainment , but fails to really go as gonzo as it could , making it ultimately disappointing , with one major exception .
The biggest complaint I have about Money Plane comes down to quality .
Made on a shoestring budget , it ’ s hard to buy that the rather “ meh ” commercial style flight we see our heroes take over would actually be this mythical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bland rooms try their best to double for VIP sky suites and the fake stewardess costume worn by one of Jack ’ s team is laughably out of style .
Plot-wise , the story is also rather wanting .
Ultimately Money Plane is…uh…kind of boring ?
At times it drags like a dead weight and still there are moments of unhinged wildness .
Money Plane ’ s most gloriously ridiculous moments come courtesy of director Andrew Lawrence ’ s brothers , Joey and Matthew .
Yes , Money Plane is a Lawrence brothers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the show Blossom , right ?
The heartthrob and his two younger brothers co-starred together in the short-lived sitcom Brotherly Love in the ’ 90s .
Money Plane proves they still have a healthy working relationship .
Director Andrew co-stars as one of Jack Reese ’ s crew while oldest brother Joey plays the John Wick rip-off character , The Concierge , and middle brother Matthew gets to ham it up as a high-roller called The Cowboy .
The latter two characters are introduced with a whiff of camp that this film could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'Real Housewives ' Franchise Is A Timeless Horror Anthology About The Nightmares of Patriarchy — And I 'm Obsessed With It Kelsey Grammer Reveals There are Six Different Possibilities for a 'Frasier ' Reboot Screen It Or Skip It : 'Proven Innocent ' On Fox , Where A Falsely-Accused Woman Defends Others Like Her Money Plane definitely features a scene where acting titan Kelsey Grammer talks about betting on a dude fucking an alligator , but it peaks in that moment as well .
No other moment has the insane bluster of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s because the best part of Money Plane is Kelsey Grammer ’ s performance .
He powers through every line of dialogue as though he ’ s delivering Shakespeare and sells Grouch ’ s pernicious plots from beginning to end .
While other actors in the film seem to be phoning it in , Grammer gives Money Plane his all .
What does Money Plane give him back ?
Immortality in the guise of that damn alligator line .
Money Plane is a monstrosity of a movie , but hey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie for 2020 , eh ?

I can pinpoint the exact moment in my life when I knew I had to watch the movie Money Plane. It was when I saw a 15 second-long clip of five-time Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer explaining what a Money Plane is to WWE superstar Edge, aka Adam Copeland:
“It’s called a Money Plane. Some of the baddest motherfuckers on the planet are on that plane, all craving action. Whatever you want to wager on, the Money Plane has you covered. You want to bet on a dude fucking an alligator? Money Plane.”
This clip, setting up the very concept of Money Plane, captured my imagination like nothing before. The specific line, “You want to bet on a dude fucking an alligator?”, rocked the foundations of my world. I didn’t know a dude could have sex with an alligator, much less that the rich and mighty would want to bet on it! I was so transfixed that I rewatched this clip upwards of 12 times before furiously texting two of the only friends I have in my pandemic bubble: “WE HAVE TO WATCH MONEY PLANE!!!” And watch it we did…
Money Plane is a movie about a casino heist in the skies. It tells the tale of an ordinary man, Jack Reese (Copeland), charged with leading an impossible mission at the behest of an evil man named Darius “The Rumble” Grouch (Grammer). It is profane, bizarre, and, at $10 to own on VOD, arguably one of the best summer movie deals of 2020.
However, like the wild bets those bad motherfuckers make in the sky, watching Money Plane is a gamble in and of itself. Yes, it’s a deliciously bad movie — and watching bad movies can be its own brand of fun — but that also means you’re signing up to watch a bad movie. Money Plane is the best and worst of what a bad movie experience can be. It is shameless in its boorish approach to entertainment, but fails to really go as gonzo as it could, making it ultimately disappointing, with one major exception.
The biggest complaint I have about Money Plane comes down to quality. Made on a shoestring budget, it’s hard to buy that the rather “meh” commercial style flight we see our heroes take over would actually be this mythical casino of the skies. Blank, bland rooms try their best to double for VIP sky suites and the fake stewardess costume worn by one of Jack’s team is laughably out of style. Plot-wise, the story is also rather wanting. Ultimately Money Plane is…uh…kind of boring? At times it drags like a dead weight and still there are moments of unhinged wildness.
Money Plane’s most gloriously ridiculous moments come courtesy of director Andrew Lawrence’s brothers, Joey and Matthew. Yes, Money Plane is a Lawrence brothers joint. You remember Joey Lawrence from the show Blossom, right? The heartthrob and his two younger brothers co-starred together in the short-lived sitcom Brotherly Love in the ’90s. Money Plane proves they still have a healthy working relationship. Director Andrew co-stars as one of Jack Reese’s crew while oldest brother Joey plays the John Wick rip-off character, The Concierge, and middle brother Matthew gets to ham it up as a high-roller called The Cowboy. The latter two characters are introduced with a whiff of camp that this film could have honestly used more of.
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Money Plane definitely features a scene where acting titan Kelsey Grammer talks about betting on a dude fucking an alligator, but it peaks in that moment as well. No other moment has the insane bluster of that one line or the creative majesty. That’s because the best part of Money Plane is Kelsey Grammer’s performance. He powers through every line of dialogue as though he’s delivering Shakespeare and sells Grouch’s pernicious plots from beginning to end. While other actors in the film seem to be phoning it in, Grammer gives Money Plane his all. What does Money Plane give him back? Immortality in the guise of that damn alligator line.
Money Plane is a monstrosity of a movie, but hey, that just makes it the perfect summer movie for 2020, eh?
Where to stream Money Plane


newyorkpost--2020-08-05--Kelly Stafford ‘loses her s–t’ at NFL for turning life into nightmare

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Lions star QB Matthew Stafford was removed from the NFL ’ s COVID-IR list on Tuesday , but not after a false-positive test by the league turned his family ’ s life upside down .
“ The past four days have been somewhat of a nightmare , ” Stafford ’ s wife Kelly wrote .
“ We were all tested the day after and we were all negative , including Matthew…then he tested negative again , then again , again and again.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted a story that simply said , “ I am about to lose my s–t.
” Last year , Kelly had surgery to remove a brain tumor .
According to the CDC ’ s guidelines , she would be classified as high risk if she contracts the coronavirus .
The Lions posted a statement Tuesday afternoon describing that Stafford is back on the roster after receiving a false positive test .
“ I have been losing my mind because of how my Family has been treated since my husband was put on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has four children with Matt , said .
“ Even after we knew it was a false positive , I was approached in a grocery store told I was ‘ endangering others , ’ my kids were harassed and kicked off a playground , I was told I needed to wait in my car when trying to pick up food , and people closest to us had to get tested just so they could go back to work… and that ’ s just to name a few things.
” The Staffords ’ experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just how challenging a situation the NFL faces as it tries to operate its season during the coronavirus pandemic .
Kelly explained that she does not blame those around her , just the NFL , which put her family in such a tenuous situation .
“ I blame the @ NFL for not holding themselves accountable , ” Kelly said .
These are people ’ s lives and livelihoods that are in those results in THEIR test sites .
Maybe we should be absolutely positive a person has covid before releasing that info @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharing our experience because I don ’ t want it happening to any other family that plays for this league .
”

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
The NFL turned Kelly Stafford’s life into “a nightmare.”
Lions star QB Matthew Stafford was removed from the NFL’s COVID-IR list on Tuesday, but not after a false-positive test by the league turned his family’s life upside down.
“The past four days have been somewhat of a nightmare,” wrote Stafford’s wife, Kelly. “We were all tested the day after and we were all negative, including Matthew…then he tested negative again, then again, again and again.”
Shortly before her Instagram post, Kelly posted a story that simply said, “I am about to lose my s–t.”
Last year, Kelly had surgery to remove a brain tumor. According to the CDC’s guidelines, she would be classified as high risk if she contracts the coronavirus. The Lions posted a statement Tuesday afternoon saying Stafford is back on the roster after receiving a false positive test.
“I have been losing my mind because of how my Family has been treated since my husband was put on the Covid-IR list,” said Kelly, who has four children with Matt. “Even after we knew it was a false positive, I was approached in a grocery store told I was ‘endangering others,’ my kids were harassed and kicked off a playground, I was told I needed to wait in my car when trying to pick up food, and people closest to us had to get tested just so they could go back to work… and that’s just to name a few things.”
The Staffords’ experience shines a light on one aspect of just how challenging a situation the NFL faces as it tries to operate its season during the coronavirus pandemic. Kelly explained that she does not blame those around her, just the NFL, which put her family in such a tenuous situation.
“I blame the @NFL for not holding themselves accountable,” Kelly said. “These are people’s lives and livelihoods that are in those results in THEIR test sites. Maybe we should be absolutely positive a person has covid before releasing that info to the world. I’m sharing our experience because I don’t want it happening to any other family that plays for this league.”