newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Super Bowl 2020: Why 49ers are better prepared for this Patrick Mahomes test

A famous George Bernard Shaw quote applies to how Patrick ...

MIAMI — There are always comparisons, because when teams get this far, everyone wants to figure out what happens next.
How does this team match up with that one? How does this offense compete with this defense? To get a handle on this, games against similar opponents and systems are revealed and studied, all in hope of finding a clue to how Team A will deal with Team B.
Nothing is juicier than when a prolific offense faces a stifling defense, and Sunday’s Super Bowl 2020 is all about that, as the high-flying and high-scoring Chiefs and unyielding 49ers are set for what should be a titanic clash.
So, where do the 49ers go to get a better idea of what to expect when Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his offensive brethren take the field? What comparable team makes sense to use as a barometer?
“They’re the fastest team by far,’’ 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said of the Chiefs. “To try to compare it to another team would not do them justice, to be honest with you. But, anytime you have speed like that, it naturally will stress the defense.”
Naturally stressing a defense is not what Saleh wants to see happen to his unit. The 49ers thus far in the playoffs have allowed only 10 points to the Vikings and 20 to the Packers. The Chiefs have overcome slow starts with fantastic finishes, scoring 51 points against the Texans and 35 against the Titans in two come-from-behind playoff victories. Mahomes is completing 65.7 percent of his passes, with eight touchdowns and no interceptions for a postseason passer rating of 131.5. He is also the Chiefs’ leading rusher with 106 yards.
“One, his mobility is unique,’’ Saleh said. “His arm strength is ridiculous. He’s very, very accurate. But, what I don’t think people give him enough credit for is that he actually plays quarterback. There’s a lot of people, there’s a lot of quarterbacks in this league that will say no to number one and then it just becomes street ball. He gets rid of the ball on time. He puts it where it needs to be. He hits a lot of throws in rhythm. And when he needs to take his shot, he knows how to buy time in the pocket and do it.” So, he’s a superstar in every way you can possibly imagine and he’s going to be tough to deal with.”
The 49ers last faced Mahomes and the Chiefs in late September 2018. Mahomes threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns, and the 49ers were unable to put up any speed bumps in a 38-27 loss.
“They’re similar,’’ Saleh said of this year’s Chiefs. “They’re very explosive. Mahomes has gotten better. They’re, at every position, it almost looks like they got their roster from the Olympic relay team and threw them all on the football field. Not to say they can’t run routes and catch either, because they can do that. They’re a special group.”
This is a better 49ers defense than last year’s, including an improved ability to harass Mahomes. The 49ers have 48 sacks this season, fueled by the work of Arik Armstead (10 sacks), Nick Bosa (9), DeForest Buckner (7.5) and Dee Ford (6.5).
“The speed that they bring to be able to run with a guy like Mahomes,’’ Saleh said, explaining why he feels his defense is better prepared for Mahomes. “But, when you have edge rushers, it speeds up the process of the quarterback, and, not that he needs speeding up, he already gets rid of it pretty quick. But it changes the game. Like I talked about last week, it unlocks the offensive line so it creates a little bit more space and it gives the guys inside more space to operate. So, having those guys out there, having them at full speed, will do nothing but help.”
For more on the NFL playoffs, listen to the latest episode of the “Gang’s All Here” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Grammys’ biggest snubs and surprises of 2020

Billie Eilish swept the big four categories of the 2020 ...

It wouldn’t be the 2020 Grammy Awards if there weren’t a few shockers.
At the Alicia Keys-hosted award show — which took place Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles — stars walked the red carpet in all their finery, and big names such as newcomer Billie Eilish took home top honors.
But not everything went as expected on music’s biggest night.
Here were the night’s biggest snubs and surprises.
Snub: Taylor Swift
When nominations were announced, the pop superstar was shut out of the Album and Record of the Year categories. Adding insult to injury, Swift lost out on Sunday in all three categories for which her “Lover” album and song were nominated (Song of the Year, Best Pop Album, and Best Pop Solo Performance). Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, Swift skipped out on the night altogether.
Surprise: Willie Nelson
Comeback queen Tanya Tucker was expected to sweep the country categories, and she did take home the trophies for Best Country Album and Best Country Song. But Nelson swooped in with an unexpected win in the Best Country Solo Performance category for “Ride Me Back Home,” also beating out Blake Shelton for his smash hit “God’s Country.”
Snub: H.E.R.
The R&B critical favorite took home two Grammys last year, but despite five nods in 2020, she couldn’t pull out any wins this time. H.E.R. and her sunglasses lost Album of the Year (“I Used to Know Her”), Record and Song of the Year (“Hard Place”), and Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance (“Could’ve Been,” with Bryson Tiller).
Surprise: Billie Eilish
It’s not a shock that industry darling Billie Eilish won any particular award in the night’s big four categories: Best New Artist, Album of the Year (for “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”), Record of the Year or Song of the Year (both for “Bad Guy”). But the fact that she won every single one — at 18 years old, no less — makes it a whopper of a sweep.
Snub: Lizzo
She was the most nominated artist of the night with eight nods, but that didn’t translate to any wins in the major four categories. Don’t cry for the rising star, though. Lizzo racked up three genre wins: Best Urban Contemporary Album for “Cuz I Love You,” Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Jerome” and Best Pop Solo Performance for her No. 1 hit “Truth Hurts.”
Snub (sort of): Lil Nas X
Many pundits thought the “Old Town Road” singer could pull off a win for Record of the Year. That didn’t happen, thanks to an especially strong showing for Billie Eilish, but Lil Nas X still has reason to celebrate. He earned his first two Grammys in the categories of Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video.
Snub: Ariana Grande
At the start of 2019, Grande owned much of the conversation happening in music, thanks to her career-propelling album “Thank U, Next.” But while she came into the Grammys with five chances at winning a trophy, she ended up going home empty-handed.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--The biggest NHL storylines: Ovechkin’s chase, Tortorella’s magic

A breath .
A reset .
And then the NHL resumes , with a lot on the plate .
As the league returns from another successful All-Star weekend in St. Louis , the storylines abound .
Here in the New York area , the Rangers are trying to push for the playoffs — or sell off before the Feb. 24 deadline .
The Islanders are trying to maintain playoff position — and add a much-needed top-six forward before the deadline .
And the Devils are trying to save some face — and eventually make the playoffs again at some point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the things that can happen before the trade deadline , the league outside of our area is bustling with big things .
Let ’ s take a look at the Top 5 .
With Ovechkin putting up 34 goals in his first 49 games of the season — and then skipping the All-Star Game , much to the chagrin of commissioner Gary Bettman — the talk of him approaching Gretzky ’ s seemingly untouchable record of 894 goals became plausible .
The 34-year-old Ovechkin now has 692 , just two short of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list .
So he has a long way to go .
But Gretzky , of all people , thinks he has a chance .
“ It ’ s hard to do what I did , and it ’ s really hard to do what he ’ s doing now , ” Gretzky told NHL.com this weekend .
“ But there ’ s no question in my mind that he has a real legitimate chance of doing it .
The two things that you need ; you ’ ve got to stay healthy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his career .
He plays hard and he stays healthy .
And , secondly , you ’ ve got to be on a good team — and he plays on a good team.
” The Penguins captain had surgery for an injury to a core muscle in November , and missed exactly two months for a total of 28 games .
He returned Jan. 12 , and just happened to put up a goal and three assists in his first game back .
The thought was that his team would struggle to maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the break at 31-14-5 , good for second in the Metropolitan Division and fourth in the league .
They ’ re obviously better with him , so does this represent a chance from Crosby & Co. to pick up a fourth Stanley Cup ?
Big news right before this weekend came when the best player in the league said he rehabbed from a serious knee injury all summer , but was ready for the start of the year ( Not so coincidentally , the news came with the release of a documentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a goal post in his team ’ s regular-season finale on April 6 , suffering multiple tears in the knee and a broken tibia .
He hurt his PCL , which meant it would be a somewhat unusual surgery .
He chose not to do it , choosing rehab instead .
“ Obviously I was a 22-year-old kid at the time , and you never want to miss a season , ” said McDavid , who is leading the league with 76 points in 49 games .
“ There were days when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through that process .
You ’ re like , ‘ Uh , I wonder what the MRI is going to look like ?
Should we go back and do the surgery and start over ?
’ But it just kept progressing and progressing and ultimately we didn ’ t have to go through the surgery route.
” The city did a great job reminding everyone this weekend that the Blues won the Stanley Cup last season .
Laila Anderson , the inspirational young girl with a rare immune disease , was outstanding in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no-longer-interim coach Craig Berube had his team third in the league at 30-11-8 .
The Blues are built for the playoffs , so how well they ’ re doing in the regular season says something .
They have as good a chance as anyone to win this year , with the Penguins of 2016 and 2017 as the most recent repeat champions .
Name one player outside of Seth Jones on the Blue Jackets ( For note : They have no one in the top 65 in points ) .
This is why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Jack Adams Award , as he has Columbus in playoff position yet again .
Of course it wouldn ’ t take much of a slip for the Blue Jackets to fall out , but just to be in the conversation after losing their best player in Artemi Panarin and their starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky last summer is astounding .
Of all the great seasons Tortorella has orchestrated behind the bench , this might be his finest work .
For more on the Rangers , listen to the latest episode of the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ :

A breath. A reset. And then the NHL resumes, with a lot on the plate.
As the league returns from another successful All-Star weekend in St. Louis, the storylines abound. Here in the New York area, the Rangers are trying to push for the playoffs — or sell off before the Feb. 24 deadline. The Islanders are trying to maintain playoff position — and add a much-needed top-six forward before the deadline. And the Devils are trying to save some face — and eventually make the playoffs again at some point in the not-too-distant future.
So besides all the things that can happen before the trade deadline, the league outside of our area is bustling with big things. Let’s take a look at the Top 5.
1. Can Alex Ovechkin actually beat Wayne Gretzky’s goal record?
With Ovechkin putting up 34 goals in his first 49 games of the season — and then skipping the All-Star Game, much to the chagrin of commissioner Gary Bettman — the talk of him approaching Gretzky’s seemingly untouchable record of 894 goals became plausible. The 34-year-old Ovechkin now has 692, just two short of Mark Messier for eighth on the all-time list. So he has a long way to go. But Gretzky, of all people, thinks he has a chance.
“It’s hard to do what I did, and it’s really hard to do what he’s doing now,” Gretzky told NHL.com this weekend. “But there’s no question in my mind that he has a real legitimate chance of doing it. The two things that you need; you’ve got to stay healthy, and he’s proven that over his career. He plays hard and he stays healthy. And, secondly, you’ve got to be on a good team — and he plays on a good team.”
2. Is Sidney Crosby superhuman?
The Penguins captain had surgery for an injury to a core muscle in November, and missed exactly two months for a total of 28 games. He returned Jan. 12, and just happened to put up a goal and three assists in his first game back.
The thought was that his team would struggle to maintain without him, but the Pens went into the break at 31-14-5, good for second in the Metropolitan Division and fourth in the league. They’re obviously better with him, so does this represent a chance from Crosby & Co. to pick up a fourth Stanley Cup?
3. Connor McDavid was hurt?
Big news right before this weekend came when the best player in the league said he rehabbed from a serious knee injury all summer, but was ready for the start of the year (not so coincidentally, the news came with the release of a documentary). McDavid hurt himself slamming into a goal post in his team’s regular-season finale on April 6, suffering multiple tears in the knee and a broken tibia. He hurt his PCL, which meant it would be a somewhat unusual surgery. He chose not to do it, choosing rehab instead.
“Obviously I was a 22-year-old kid at the time, and you never want to miss a season,” said McDavid, who is leading the league with 76 points in 49 games. “There were days when it didn’t feel that good going through that process. You’re like, ‘Uh, I wonder what the MRI is going to look like? Should we go back and do the surgery and start over?’ But it just kept progressing and progressing and ultimately we didn’t have to go through the surgery route.”
4. The Blues might repeat.
The city did a great job reminding everyone this weekend that the Blues won the Stanley Cup last season. Laila Anderson, an inspirational young girl with a rare immune disease, was outstanding in introducing her hometown players Saturday, and no-longer-interim coach Craig Berube had his team third in the league at 30-11-8.
The Blues are built for the playoffs, so how well they’re doing in the regular season says something. They have as good a chance as anyone to win this year, with the Penguins of 2016 and 2017 as the most recent repeat champions.
5. Is Torts for real?
Name one player outside of Seth Jones on the Blue Jackets (note: They have no one in the top 65 in points). This is why John Tortorella is already garnering buzz for the Jack Adams Award as he has Columbus in playoff position yet again. Of course it wouldn’t take much of a slip for the Blue Jackets to fall out, but just to be in the conversation after losing their best player in Artemi Panarin and their starting goalie Sergei Bobrovsky last summer is astounding.
Of all the great seasons Tortorella has orchestrated behind the bench, this might be his finest work.
For more on the Rangers, listen to the latest episode of the “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Kobe Bryant’s faith and other commentary

In its obituary for basketball superstar Kobe Bryant , who “ died Sunday in a helicopter crash in Southern California , along with his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna , ” the Catholic News Agency highlights Bryant ’ s Catholic faith , which he credited with “ helping him move past a challenging period in his own life and the life of his family.
” When he was accused of rape in 2003 , a charge he denied , Bryant decided to “ place deeper trust in God , ” talking to a priest and attending Mass .
He also emphasized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund youth homeless shelters and other projects aimed at serving the poor.
” In all , as singer Cristina Ballestero wrote on Instagram , Bryant ’ s decision to “ receive God ’ s mercy and to be a better man after a regretful decision ” was “ inspiring.
” A pro-Iran-regime group that “ played a pivotal backstage role in securing the Obama-era nuclear deal abandoned by President Trump ” is again “ exerting its influence , ” warns RealClearInvestigations ’ Mark Hemingway .
After Tehran fired missiles at US troops based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council blamed President Trump and “ co-hosted a ‘ No War With Iran Strategy Call ’ that featured presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders , along with Reps. Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna.
” There is clear “ evidence of close communication between the lobbying group ’ s leaders and Iranian officials , ” yet NIAC founder Trita Parsi is a cable-commentary regular .
As a congressional staffer notes , “ if an organization with close ties to Russia were repeatedly accused of lobbying for the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in staffing congressional offices and working to elect candidates , ‘ there would a 24/7 meltdown on cable news.
’ ” European leaders have “ spoken out against China ’ s repression and mass detention of its minority Muslim population ” in the Xinjiang province — yet , Annie Fixler and Mikhael Smits note at The Hill , Europe may give lucrative 5G infrastructure contracts to one of “ the same technology firms facilitating these abuses.
” That would be Chinese telecom giant Huawei , which has provided “ cloud-computing power and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and provincial government in Xinjiang ” and received praise from provincial leaders .
Worse , the Chinese Communists could use Huawei to “ steal private or proprietary information or use ‘ kill switches ’ to disrupt .
.
.
electrical grids.
” Sure , choosing Huawei would save money — but at the price of European “ security , privacy and freedom.
” “ Another day , another barrage of hysterical reactions to a marginal regulatory reform , ” sighs Reason ’ s Christian Britschgi — in this case , “ the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renounces the federal government ’ s ability to regulate ponds , puddles and ( some ) ditches , ” including on private property .
The New York Times , for example , quoted an environmental lawyer who claims the change is “ the biggest loss of clean-water protection the country has ever seen.
” In fact , the new rule will only “ pare back the federal government ’ s regulatory powers to something closer to what Congress intended ” in the 1972 Clean Water Act .
So don ’ t believe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t “ a broadside against science and clean water ” at all — it ’ s a strike against the feds ’ “ claim to effectively limitless regulatory authority.
” Imagine you are on trial — but the prosecutors “ stop you from presenting your defense ” and then “ argue that you should be convicted because you have no defense.
” That “ sounds like something out of Kafka , ” but , says National Review ’ s Andrew McCarthy , it ’ s “ essentially what House Democrats have done to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe Trump was “ concerned about rooting out corruption ” when he asked his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden .
Whether or not that ’ s true , House Democrats never gave Trump defenders “ a fair opportunity ” to present their case regarding the energy firm Burisma .
Having blocked this basic procedural right , Democratic impeachment managers perversely insist at his Senate trial that there is no evidence of such corruption .
Shame : “ A trial is not a trial ” without “ the right to mount @ @ @ @

Religion bureau: Kobe’s Faith
In its obituary for basketball superstar Kobe Bryant, who “died Sunday in a helicopter crash in Southern California, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna,” the Catholic News Agency highlights Bryant’s Catholic faith, which he credited with “helping him move past a challenging period in his own life and the life of his family.” When he was accused of rape in 2003, a charge he denied, Bryant decided to “place deeper trust in God,” talking to a priest and attending Mass. He also emphasized his faith in his decision to “fund youth homeless shelters and other projects aimed at serving the poor.” In all, as singer Cristina Ballestero wrote on Instagram, Bryant’s decision to “receive God’s mercy and to be a better man after a regretful decision” was “inspiring.”
Foreign desk: Tehran’s DC Spokesmen
A pro-Iran-regime group that “played a pivotal backstage role in securing the Obama-era nuclear deal abandoned by President Trump” is again “exerting its influence,” warns RealClearInvestigations’ Mark Hemingway. After Tehran fired missiles at US troops based in Iraq, the National Iranian American Council blamed President Trump and “co-hosted a ‘No War With Iran Strategy Call’ that featured presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, along with Reps. Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna.” There is clear “evidence of close communication between the lobbying group’s leaders and Iranian officials,” yet NIAC founder Trita Parsi is a cable-commentary regular. As a congressional staffer notes, “if an organization with close ties to Russia were repeatedly accused of lobbying for the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin, not to mention taking an active role in staffing congressional offices and working to elect candidates, ‘there would a 24/7 meltdown on cable news.’ ”
Security beat: The Hazards of Huawei
European leaders have “spoken out against China’s repression and mass detention of its minority Muslim population” in the Xinjiang province — yet, Annie Fixler and Mikhael Smits note at The Hill, Europe may give lucrative 5G infrastructure contracts to one of “the same technology firms facilitating these abuses.” That would be Chinese telecom giant Huawei, which has provided “cloud-computing power and other technical support to the police departments and provincial government in Xinjiang” and received praise from provincial leaders. Worse, the Chinese Communists could use Huawei to “steal private or proprietary information or use ‘kill switches’ to disrupt . . . electrical grids.” Sure, choosing Huawei would save money — but at the price of European “security, privacy and freedom.”
Libertarian: The Media’s Puddle Muddle
“Another day, another barrage of hysterical reactions to a marginal regulatory reform,” sighs Reason’s Christian Britschgi — in this case, “the White House’s finalized clean-water rule that renounces the federal government’s ability to regulate ponds, puddles and (some) ditches,” including on private property. The New York Times, for example, quoted an environmental lawyer who claims the change is “the biggest loss of clean-water protection the country has ever seen.” In fact, the new rule will only “pare back the federal government’s regulatory powers to something closer to what Congress intended” in the 1972 Clean Water Act. So don’t believe the hysteria: The rule change isn’t “a broadside against science and clean water” at all — it’s a strike against the feds’ “claim to effectively limitless regulatory authority.”
Impeach watch: A Kafkaesque ‘Trial’
Imagine you are on trial — but the prosecutors “stop you from presenting your defense” and then “argue that you should be convicted because you have no defense.” That “sounds like something out of Kafka,” but, says National Review’s Andrew McCarthy, it’s “essentially what House Democrats have done to President Trump.” They don’t believe Trump was “concerned about rooting out corruption” when he asked his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden. Whether or not that’s true, House Democrats never gave Trump defenders “a fair opportunity” to present their case regarding the energy firm Burisma. Having blocked this basic procedural right, Democratic impeachment managers perversely insist at his Senate trial that there is no evidence of such corruption. Shame: “A trial is not a trial” without “the right to mount a defense.”
— Compiled by Karl Salzmann & Kelly Jane Torrance


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--New York AG wants to ban Martin Shkreli for life from pharma industry

New York Attorney General Letitia James Monday filed a lawsuit against imprisoned “ Pharma Bro ” Martin Shkreli attempting to block him from working in the pharmaceutical industry ever again .
The complaint , filed with the Manhattan Federal Trade Commission , accuses Vyera Pharmaceuticals — formerly Shkreli ’ s company Turing — of working to edge out industry competition in order to continue selling the drug Daraprim for an exorbitant price .
Shkreli , 36 , earned himself the moniker of “ Most hated man in the world ” for hiking up the price of the AIDS drug nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turing during August 2015 .
As part of the suit , James asks a judge to bar Shkreli — who ’ s working from prison as he serves out a seven-year sentence for securities fraud — to block the felon from the pharma industry for the rest of his life .
The suit also seeks to bar his business partner , Kevin Mulleady .
“ Martin Shkreli and Vyera not only enriched themselves by despicably jacking up the price of this life-saving medication by 4,000 percent in a single day , but held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitors as they illegally sought to maintain their monopoly , ” James said in a statement .
“ We filed this lawsuit to stop Vyera ’ s egregious conduct , make the company pay for its illegal scheming , and block Martin Shkreli from ever working in the pharmaceutical industry again .
“ We won ’ t allow ‘ Pharma Bros ’ to manipulate the market and line their pockets at the expense of vulnerable patients and the health care system , ” she added .
A lawyer for Shkreli and Vyera did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A lawyer for Mulleady could not be immediately reached .
Shkreli is currently imprisoned at FCI Allenwood in Pennsylvania .
He ’ s scheduled for release in September 2023 .

New York Attorney General Letitia James Monday filed a lawsuit against imprisoned “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli attempting to block him from working in the pharmaceutical industry ever again.
The complaint, filed with the Federal Trade Commission, accuses Vyera Pharmaceuticals — formerly Shkreli’s company Turing — of working to edge out industry competition in order to continue selling the drug Daraprim for an exorbitant price.
Shkreli, 36, earned himself the moniker of “Most hated man in the world” for hiking up the price of the AIDS drug nearly 5,000 percent while serving as head of Turing during August 2015.
As part of the suit, James asks a judge to bar Shkreli — who’s working from prison as he serves out a seven-year sentence for securities fraud — to block the felon from the pharma industry for the rest of his life.
The suit also seeks to bar his business partner, Kevin Mulleady.
“Martin Shkreli and Vyera not only enriched themselves by despicably jacking up the price of this life-saving medication by 4,000 percent in a single day, but held this critical drug hostage from patients and competitors as they illegally sought to maintain their monopoly,”James said in a statement. “We filed this lawsuit to stop Vyera’s egregious conduct, make the company pay for its illegal scheming, and block Martin Shkreli from ever working in the pharmaceutical industry again.
“We won’t allow ‘Pharma Bros’ to manipulate the market and line their pockets at the expense of vulnerable patients and the health care system,” she added.
Shkreli lawyers Kandis Kovalsky and Edward Kang called the suit baseless and took particular umbrage with James’ calling Shkreli a “Pharma Bro.”
“As is evident from the Attorney General’s comments, including her use of the pejorative term ‘Pharma Bro’ to refer to Mr. Shkreli, the lawsuit seeks to punish Mr. Shkreli based on his reputation, not on the conduct,” the lawyers wrote in a statement. “Mr. Shkreli looks forward to defeating this baseless and unprecedented attempt by the FTC and the Attorney General’s Office to sue an individual for monopolizing a market.”
A lawyer for Mulleady could not be immediately reached.
Shkreli is currently imprisoned at FCI Allenwood in Pennsylvania. He’s scheduled for release in September 2023.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Trump lawyers: Hunter Biden’s Burisma job reason enough to seek probe

Two of the most crucial swing votes in the Senate ...

President Trump’s impeachment defense team late Monday painstakingly scrutinized Hunter Biden’s high-paying job at Burisma, arguing that President Trump was right to be concerned about corruption involving the Ukrainian energy company for giving such a position to the then-vice president’s under-qualified son.
Trump lawyer Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, linked Joe Biden’s official role with his son’s reported $50,000-a-month position on Burisma’s board.
“Here’s how Hunter Biden came to join Burisma’s board in April 2014: he was brought on the board by Devon Archer, his business partner,” Bondi said.
“Public records show that April 16, 2014, Devon Archer meets with Vice President Biden at the White House. Just two days later on April 18, 2014, is when Hunter Biden quietly joins Burisma.”
Bondi linked Hunter Biden’s new job to two events: his father taking over as US point person for Ukraine policy in early 2014, and a money laundering investigation in the UK through which $23 million in Burisma funds were frozen.
“Ten days after Hunter Biden joins the board, British authorities seize $23 million in British bank accounts connected to… the owner of Burisma. Did Hunter Biden leave the board then? No,” Bondi said. “Then, only then did the company choose to announce that Hunter Biden had joined the board.”
Bondi quoted House impeachment testimony from US diplomats about the company’s poor reputation, including official George Kent testifying that he intervened to stop cosponsorship of a children’s contest with the company where a camera was the prize.
Bondi blamed House impeachment managers for forcing discussion of the Bidens.
“The House managers have placed this squarely at issue, so we must address it,” she said. “They spoke to you for over 21 hours and they referenced Biden or Burisma over 400 times and when they gave these presentations they said there was nothing to see, it was a sham.”
Bondi said “their case crumbles” if there was a valid reason to investigate Burisma corruption.
Trump was impeached last month by House Democrats who alleged that he urged Ukraine to investigate the Bidens and the whereabouts of a Democratic computer server while withholding nearly $400 million in congressionally approved aid. Trump and his defense team have said there was no connection between his interest in the investigations and the aid delay.
Eric Herschmann, another Trump lawyer, later told senators that Hunter Biden “had no relevant expertise or experience… [and] he doesn’t so far as we know speak Ukrainian.”
“So why did Burisma want Hunter Biden on its board?” Herschmann asked. “He did have one qualification: He was son of the vice president of the United States. He was the son of the man in charge of the Ukrainian portfolio.
“We are to believe there is nothing to see here. That for anyone to investigate or inquire about this would be a sham,” Herschamann said, arguing that was not the case.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Kobe Bryant spoke with LeBron James hours before helicopter crash

Shaquille O ’ Neal ’ s son was one of the last people to ...

Hours before Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash that rocked the world, the Lakers legend spoke with LeBron James on the phone to congratulate the Lakers star on passing him to become the third-highest scorer in NBA history.
Several current Lakers players listened into the call, according to The Athletic, which James said took place Sunday morning.
Bryant, 41, was among nine killed Sunday morning in the crash about 30 miles outside of Los Angeles.
The five-time NBA champion’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, also was killed as they were traveling to Bryant’s basketball practice facility.
“literally just heard your voice Sunday morning before I left Philly to head back to LA. Didn’t think for one bit in a million years that would be the last conversation we’d have,” James wrote Monday on Instagram. “WTF!! I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!!”
On Saturday, Bryant paid tribute to James on social media after his close friend surpassed him in the NBA record books during a game in Bryant’s hometown of Philadelphia.
“Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames,” Bryant tweeted. Much respect my brother #33644.” (Bryant finished his career with 33,644 points, while James currently is at 33,655 points.)
It was during the Lakers’ flight back to Los Angeles on Sunday when James and his teammates learned of Bryant’s death.
“Everyone is in shock,” a team source told ESPN on Sunday.
James was spotted tearing up and hugging multiple people after finding out about the crash, which occurred amid a dense fog and currently is under investigation by local authorities.
While only Dwight Howard of the current Lakers players played alongside Bryant in the NBA, many if not all of them have been touched by the future Hall of Famer.
James and Bryant, widely considered two of the best NBA players of the past 20 years, won gold medals for Team USA at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
To honor Bryant, the NBA postponed the Lakers-Clippers game on Tuesday, which would have been the Lakers’ first game since the accident. (The date of the makeup game has not yet been announced.)
The Lakers, who are slated to play the Trail Blazers at home on Friday, brought in counselors to help members of the organization mourn. Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Yes, NYC’s public schools need a federal racketeering probe

A racketeering investigation of New York City ’ s public-school system is long overdue .
The US Attorney for the Eastern District apparently is still mulling how far it will probe , but it ’ s definitely asking questions about some of the most recent grade- and test-fixing scandals .
This outrageous academic fraud — by adults all across the system — keeps recurring , year after year after year , all across the city .
Time and again , The Post uncovers a scandal ; the Department of Education announces an investigation — and no adult winds up paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s all rinse-and-repeat .
This month , City Councilman Robert Holden ( D-Queens ) met with officials in the US Attorney ’ s Office for the Eastern District , reports The Post ’ s Susan Edelman .
As Holden wrote the feds earlier , the “ apparent pattern of conspiracy to cover up ” the cheating and other wrongdoing might warrant an investigation under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act .
The “ no-fail policy ” at Maspeth HS is just one small piece of it .
Staff with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim the SCI has been sitting on cases alleging waste or misconduct by Mayor Bill de Blasio , Chirlane McCray , Chancellor Richard Carranza and other “ high-level executives ” to protect them , Edelman writes .
( The SCI ’ s office denies it . )
One classic case dates back to 2013 : Whistleblowing teachers exposing a massive grade-fixing scheme at Brooklyn ’ s John Dewey HS — a program students dubbed “ Easy Pass.
” Eventually , the principal was transferred — but never fired .
And an arbitrator eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the central DOE refused to cooperate with the investigation .
“ School and district officials face essentially no accountability or consequences for fraud , ” the Manhattan Institute ’ s Max Eden notes .
Union officials and the State Education Department plainly play along with the endless coverups .
In all , it ’ s likely worse than the deceptions exposed by the Southern District ’ s investigation of the New York City Housing Authority — which now have NYCHA answering to a federal monitor .
The city school system probably needs @ @ @ @

A racketeering investigation of New York City’s public-school system is long overdue.
The US Attorney for the Eastern District apparently is still mulling how far it will probe, but it’s definitely asking questions about some of the most recent grade- and test-fixing scandals.
This outrageous academic fraud — by adults all across the system — keeps recurring, year after year after year, all across the city. Time and again, The Post uncovers a scandal; the Department of Education announces an investigation — and no adult winds up paying any price. Nothing really changes; it’s all rinse-and-repeat.
This month, City Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) met with officials in the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District, reports The Post’s Susan Edelman. As Holden wrote the feds earlier, the “apparent pattern of conspiracy to cover up” the cheating and other wrongdoing might warrant an investigation under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
The “no-fail policy” at Maspeth HS is just one small piece of it. Staff with the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools claim the SCI has been sitting on cases alleging waste or misconduct by Mayor Bill de Blasio, Chirlane McCray, Chancellor Richard Carranza and other “high-level executives” to protect them, Edelman writes. (The SCI’s office denies it.)
One classic case dates back to 2013: Whistleblowing teachers exposing a massive grade-fixing scheme at Brooklyn’s John Dewey HS — a program students dubbed “Easy Pass.” Eventually, the principal was transferred — but never fired. And an arbitrator eventually threw out the charges against her — because the central DOE refused to cooperate with the investigation.
“School and district officials face essentially no accountability or consequences for fraud,” the Manhattan Institute’s Max Eden notes. Union officials and the State Education Department plainly play along with the endless coverups.
In all, it’s likely worse than the deceptions exposed by the Southern District’s investigation of the New York City Housing Authority — which now have NYCHA answering to a federal monitor.
The city school system probably needs even stronger medicine.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna went to church before fatal chopper crash

Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna went to church just hours before dying — along with seven others — @ @ @ @ @ the way to the teen ’ s basketball tournament , a report said .
The @ @ @ @ @ Mass and received Communion at the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of the Angels in @ @ @ @ @ spokesman confirmed to The Daily Mail .
After leaving the house of God , Bryant @ @ @ @ @ S-76B with the other occupants at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana at 9:06 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ , in foggy conditions , the chopper crashed in the hilly terrain of Calabasas .
@ @ @ @ @ Bryant ’ s Diocese , mourned the nine fatalities in a heartfelt Facebook post on @ @ @ @ @ Bryant “ a committed Catholic who loved his family and loved his faith.
” At @ @ @ @ @ would keep a low profile by sitting “ in the back of the church so @ @ @ @ @ distract people from focusing on Christ ’ s Presence , ” Freyer wrote .

Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, went to church just hours before dying — along with seven others — in a helicopter crash on the way to the teen’s basketball tournament, a report said.
The two attended 7 a.m. Catholic Mass and received Communion at the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of the Angels in Newport Beach, a church spokesman confirmed to the Daily Mail.
After leaving the house of God, Bryant and Gianna boarded a Sikorsky S-76B with the other occupants at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana at 9:06 a.m.
Less than an hour later, in foggy conditions, the chopper crashed in the hilly terrain of Calabasas.
Bishop Timothy Freyer, of Bryant’s diocese, mourned the nine fatalities in a heartfelt Facebook post on Monday.
Freyer also called Bryant “a committed Catholic who loved his family and loved his faith.”
At Mass, the NBA icon would keep a low profile by sitting “in the back of the church so that his presence would not distract people from focusing on Christ’s Presence,” Freyer wrote.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Cause, effect: NYPD commish explains new no-bail laws lead to more crime

Crime is notably up in New York City this year , and NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea is clear on the cause : It ’ s the new state “ bail reform ” laws .
Let repeat offenders roam free — and you ’ re bound to see more crime .
That , Shea says , is what ’ s happening in the wake of the reforms that took full effect Jan. 1 : They require the immediate release of nearly all suspects soon after arrest , with exceptions only in the most violent cases .
“ If you let out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that ’ s precision policing in reverse , ” Shea warned late last week .
“ We ’ re seeing the effects in a very quick time.
” He cited a “ significant ” crime spike for the first three weeks of 2020 : By Friday , overall incidents were up 11 percent , including 233 more robberies ( 32 percent ) and 159 car thefts ( 61 percent ) .
“ Either we forgot how to police , ” snarked the commish , or there ’ s “ a correlation ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s a short-term pattern .
Yet the crime surge comes “ at the same time that you have [ state and local jail ] populations dropping significantly , ” Shea argued .
Not only are criminals who get set loose free to strike again ; they also ( logically ) assume they ’ ll suffer no consequences if re-arrested — so why not commit new crimes ?
That likely was Gerod Woodberry ’ s reasoning : When let go despite four alleged bank heists , he reportedly expressed shock : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let me out , ” he gushed .
“ What were they thinking ?
” Cops say Woodberry quickly robbed two more banks .
Were it not for a federal prosecutor , US Attorney Richard Donoghue , stepping in , he ’ d be back on the streets again , free to hit more banks .
“ No sound , rational and fair criminal-justice system requires the pre-trial release of criminal defendants who demonstrate such determination to continuously commit serious crimes , ” fumed Donoghue .
Alas , state lawmakers never consulted with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes .
Yet pols like Speaker Carl Heastie refuse to even discuss fixing the law .
Don ’ t be surprised if the surge becomes a long-term trend .

Crime is notably up in New York City this year, and NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea is clear on the cause: It’s the new state “bail reform” laws.
Let repeat offenders roam free — and you’re bound to see more crime. That, Shea says, is what’s happening in the wake of the reforms that took full effect Jan. 1: They require the immediate release of nearly all suspects soon after arrest, with exceptions only in the most violent cases.
“If you let out individuals that commit a lot of crime, that’s precision policing in reverse,” Shea warned late last week. “We’re seeing the effects in a very quick time.”
He cited a “significant” crime spike for the first three weeks of 2020: By Friday, overall incidents were up 11 percent, including 233 more robberies (32 percent) and 159 car thefts (61 percent).
“Either we forgot how to police,” snarked the commish, or there’s “a correlation” between crime and the reforms.
Sure, it’s a short-term pattern. Yet the crime surge comes “at the same time that you have [state and local jail] populations dropping significantly,” Shea argued.
Not only are criminals who get set loose free to strike again; they also (logically) assume they’ll suffer no consequences if re-arrested — so why not commit new crimes?
That likely was Gerod Woodberry’s reasoning: When let go despite four alleged bank heists, he reportedly expressed shock: “I can’t believe they let me out,” he gushed. “What were they thinking?”
Cops say Woodberry quickly robbed two more banks. Were it not for a federal prosecutor, US Attorney Richard Donoghue, stepping in, he’d be back on the streets again, free to hit more banks.
“No sound, rational and fair criminal-justice system requires the pre-trial release of criminal defendants who demonstrate such determination to continuously commit serious crimes,” fumed Donoghue.
Alas, state lawmakers never consulted with any law-enforcement professionals before rushing through the changes.
Yet pols like Speaker Carl Heastie refuse to even discuss fixing the law. Don’t be surprised if the surge becomes a long-term trend.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Kobe Bryant’s effect on Julius Randle ran deeper than basketball

The Lakers brought in grief counselors to help cope with ...

Julius Randle is the ultimate family man — married when he was 22 and dedicated to his wife, Kendra, and their 3-year-old son, Kyden, whose image is tattooed on his arm.
Sources close to the Knicks forward indicated Kobe Bryant, his Lakers teammate during his first two seasons in the NBA, was instrumental in helping him grow as a husband and father at a young age.
Bryant also married at 22, to Vanessa, whom he met when she was in high school. They had four girls — one of whom died with him in Sunday’s unthinkable helicopter crash in Southern California.
Bryant has been saluted as superstar father and ballplayer — something Randle saw firsthand after he was a one-and-done at Kentucky. Randle and Bryant were still in touch, according to sources.
“Kobe and his wife were very important to Julius and Kendra during their time in LA,’’ a Randle confidant said. “He got to learn from the best. He was an idol turned mentor and teammate.’’
Randle played Sunday’s game against the Nets with the message “Goat 24 Rest Easy Bro” on his sneakers. Randle had spoken to coach Mike Miller before the game about not playing, but decided to suit up.
While Kyrie Irving, who was close to Bryant, left the arena before the game, Randle plowed on, scored 22 points with 15 rebounds in the 110-97 victory, though he couldn’t speak to reporters afterward.
Always waiting by his locker for the media after each game, win or lose, Randle was gone by the time the writers and cameras arrived.
Randle married his college sweetheart and his devotion to Kendra and their son has made its mark on his teammates. In a Thanksgiving story, Randle told The Post:
“You never really plan when you’re going to get married. It was more about the individual. My wife was the perfect individual for me. I didn’t see any point in waiting.”
In a Vertical podcast in 2017, Randle talked about keeping in contact with Bryant, who still offered him tips. Randle lives in Los Angeles in the offseason.
“I still talk to Kob’ to this day,” Randle said. “I remember we were about to play a team, and he knew a guy really well on the team and played with him. I’m like ‘What’s some of this guy’s weaknesses or what does he not like?’ and he told me.”
“He’ll text me or talk to me, whether it’s congratulating me on my baby or going to Orange County to work out with him,’’ Randle added. “He’s open, he’s still there, he’s still available.
“I think for me, that was bigger than anything because I knew he physically couldn’t do it [in his last season]. He was at the end of his career and he couldn’t do it, and he couldn’t practice, and he couldn’t show us as much as he used to be able to.”
Randle, the Lakers’ lottery pick in 2014, said he got the most from Bryant when Randle was a struggling rookie.
“[Kobe and I] were working out and I wasn’t doing something right, and he was like, ‘You got to do it right, right now,’’ Randle recalled on that podcast. “You got to go through the pain, go through the fatigue, all of that right now. You got to fight through it right now, because when the lights come on, Michael Jackson doesn’t sweat while he’s performing. Michael Jackson’s not breathing hard when he’s performing. He’s doing all of that before, he’s doing all of that in his preparation and his work so when the lights come on he’s ready and it’s second nature.”
Bryant was once quoted during Randle’s rookie year as saying: “He can do everything. He can rebound, he can post, he can push the ball, he can pass.”
After a rough, turnover-prone start as the Knicks’ $63 million free-agent prize, Randle has turned it around, particularly since the coaching change to Miller from David Fizdale. He’s averaging 18.9 points and 9.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
Miller called off Monday’s practice out of respect for the players still digesting Bryant’s death. The team met at the airport and flew to Charlotte, N.C., home of the franchise that drafted Bryant in 1996 before being forced to trade him to the Lakers. The Knicks face the Hornets, owned by Michael Jordan, Tuesday.
After their win over the Nets on Sunday, the players were still emotionally coming to grips with Bryant’s death at age 41.
Marcus Morris, 30, felt an extra attachment as both grew up in the Philadelphia area and he attended some of Bryant’s games at Lower Merion (Pa.) High School as a kid.
“Kobe was an icon,’’ Morris said. “He was someone that growing up as a kid you always mirrored and you always wanted to be like. The aura he gave off was just greatness.’’
Taj Gibson got to know Bryant when he played at USC.
“Thank you for being the GOAT,’’ Gibson said. “Thank you for being the true definition of a superstar, for paving the way for guys like myself. Even before I got to the league, while at USC, he was always supportive, a first-class kind of guy. When I saw him, I would always pick his mind about the game. No matter who you were he would give you the same love. It feels like we just lost a superhero.’’


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Even with Bolton, case against Trump too small for impeachment: Goodwin

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton and his book publisher ...

With admirable poise given the explosions around them, President Trump’s lawyers began their second day of defense with a point-by-point dissection of the case against their client.
They calmly focused on the transcript of Trump’s July 25 call with the president of Ukraine, with Jay Sekulow saying it involved no “violation of an oath.”
Ken Starr, in a learned but too-long presentation on the history of impeachment, called out Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “runaway House” and said the partisan product she produced was “dripping with fundamental process violations.”
There was more, and it was all solid stuff that, on any other day, might have been a final nail in the Democrats’ teetering case. Unfortunately for the defense, Monday already had been claimed by John Bolton, and he wasn’t even in the room.
Bolton had instead sent a thunder bolt by authoring “The Room Where It Happened,” a clever book title surely lifted from a scene and song in the Broadway hit, “Hamilton.”
How fitting — and inevitable — that history, politics and theater would collide during the impeachment of Donald Trump.
It was also inevitable that Bolton would come back to haunt Trump. Brutally fired after just 17 months as national security adviser, he is now firing back in sensational fashion.
According to passages leaked to the anti-Trump media, Bolton writes that Trump admitted to him there was a link between the president’s demand for investigations by Ukraine and his pause on releasing military aide.
The claim buttresses the first article of impeachment, and Trump quickly called it false. He also accused Bolton of trying to sell a book. Given the provocative timing and title, money is certainly part of the motivation for Bolton and his publisher.
Recall that in recent weeks, Bolton made it clear he was eager to testify, and now he will probably get his wish — just as the book goes on sale. Ka-ching! Ka-ching!
Even before this, at least two Republicans, Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine, were seen as likely to break with the GOP and join 47 Dems calling for witnesses. Now the dam could break, possibly creating a solid majority for adding testimony and documents to the House record.
An important question will be how many witnesses, and whether Joe Biden and/or his son, Hunter, will be among them. Trump’s lawyers savaged both Monday, a tease to what the Bidens could expect as witnesses.
Still, there is no reason to believe Trump is headed for conviction and removal. Far from it.
For one thing, the requirement for 67 votes — which would mean 20 Republican switchers — remains out of reach. For another, there are many weaknesses in the case against Trump, not the least being that we are now just months from an election.
The longer the trial goes on, the closer the election and the stronger the argument becomes to let voters decide.
Moreover, Bolton’s accusation doesn’t change a key element of Trump’s defense — that he released the aid to Ukraine without getting the investigations he wanted. Even if one assumes it’s true the president outlined a quid pro quo to Bolton in August, he abandoned it in September and got zero benefit.
In that sense, the situation recalls the failed efforts by special counsel Robert Mueller to build an obstruction case against Trump in the Russia probe. There was testimony that Trump ordered aides to fire Mueller, but none did, and Trump didn’t pursue the matter or in any way block the special counsel’s probe.
Over the next few days, as the first stage of the trial comes to a close, the usual predictions of Trump’s imminent demise will fill the airwaves and headlines, courtesy of the usual suspects. Don’t fall for the cheerleading.
Even with Bolton, the basic facts in the Ukraine matter remain too light and too small to bear the enormous burden of removing an elected president.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Kylie Jenner a prior passenger with helicopter pilot involved in Kobe Bryant crash

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Kylie Jenner had a history with the helicopter pilot involved in the fatal crash that killed Kobe Bryant and his daughter .
Jenner revealed that she ’ d previously chartered the Sikorsky S-76B and its pilot , Ara Zobayan , on Instagram Monday .
“ He was such a nice man , ” she wrote beneath pictures of the nine people who were killed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13-year-daughter Gianna .
Zobayan was reportedly warned he was flying too low for so-called “ flight following ” — meaning the chopper could not be picked up by radar to receive guidance from air traffic control — moments before crashing into the California mountainside at around 185 mph , killing all nine people aboard .
At the time , he had been operating at “ special visual flight rules , ” or SVFR , which allows a pilot to fly in conditions worse than those allowed for standard visual flight rules , or @ @

Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Kylie Jenner had a history with the helicopter pilot involved in the fatal crash that killed Kobe Bryant and his daughter.
Jenner revealed on Instagram Monday that she’d previously chartered the Sikorsky S-76B flown by pilot Ara Zobayan.
“He was such a nice man,” she wrote beneath pictures of the nine people who were killed in the crash, including Bryant and his 13-year-daughter Gianna.
Moments before crashing into a California mountainside at around 185 mph Sunday, Zobayan was warned that he was flying too low for so-called “flight following” — meaning the chopper could not be picked up by radar to receive guidance from air traffic control.
Jenner, 22, also posted a tribute to Bryant and Gianna on Instagram. Sharing a photo of the pair, she wrote: “at loss for words right now. praying for this beautiful family.”
Meanwhile, Jenner’s brother-in-law Kanye West held a special version of his Sunday Service at midnight in honor of Bryant.
“No one should ever experience what the families involved are going through,” Kim Kardashian wrote on Instagram. “This has affected us all so much but I cannot begin to imagine what Vanessa is feeling losing her husband and her baby girl.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--‘Wendy’ is a brilliant reinvention of ‘Peter Pan’: Sundance review

Benh Zeitlin hasn ’ t made a film in seven years since he exploded onto the scene with his Best Picture Oscar-nominated “ Beasts of the Southern Wild ” in 2013 .
Coming out of hibernation , the director ’ s “ Wendy , ” a take on J.M .
Barrie ’ s “ Peter Pan , ” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival Sunday .
Well , was his eagerly anticipated followup worth the wait ?
To almost quote Barrie : “ I do believe in Zeitlin !
I do !
I do !
” I know , everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ riff on the “ Pan ” story in a drawer .
But “ Wendy ” finally wakes up the tired tale .
For starters , there ’ s no white nightgowns , Brits or Cathy Rigby here .
This is a uniquely American , and Caribbean , spin that quietly speaks to our working-class dreams .
Driving that point home , the story begins not in a metropolis , but in a rural southern diner owned by the mom of Wendy , James and Douglas Darling .
One day , sitting on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s going to grow up to be a pirate , but his grandma disagrees .
“ You ’ re going to be a mop and broom man , ” she says .
As a freight train loudly passes by outside , Dougo ( Gage Naquin ) angrily mutters under his breath , “ I ’ m not gon na be a mop and broom man.
” He then runs away , jumps aboard the locomotive and disappears forever .
Months later , a poster of his picture is posted on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” One night when the magic vehicle passes by again , Wendy ( Devin France ) and James ( Gavin Naquin ) spot a small boy running atop it — Peter !
— and like their brother , they jump on .
Red lights dance , children play , our hearts leap .
If you haven ’ t guessed , in this version , the children don ’ t fly with Peter to Neverland — they hop aboard a choo-choo .
Is there anything more American than the lure of a train siren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Neverland — here only referred to as Peter ’ s Island — a volcanic place kept thriving by “ mother , ” a whale-like , glowing fish with magical abilities .
Dougo is there !
Kids never grow up , unless they start to feel the weight of the world .
Peter ( the adorable Yashua Mack ) , clad in a dirty red school blazer , encourages his new recruits to let worries go in one ear and out the other , because he ’ s seen others fall to adult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Lost Boys on the island who quickly aged , and now are treated as lepers in a faraway area — kinda like the Forbidden Zone in “ The Planet of the Apes.
” Those elders provide the film ’ s conflict , but don ’ t call them villains .
“ Wendy ” is more nuanced than that .
What a gift Zeitlin has with children .
He showed that special skill with “ Beasts , ” but does even more so here , with the kid ensemble being full of personality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unbridled joy they find on the island are contagious .
It ’ s the one thing you ’ ll want to catch during cold and flu season .
The upcoming Oscars were not kind to Sundance .
Two of the favored films from the 2019 festival — “ The Farewell ” and “ The Report ” — were left out of the 2020 nominations by the academy , which has caused some lingering doubts .
But “ Wendy ” is a film I believe many will cherish , especially parents in the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the next awards cycle .
May “ Wendy ” never grow up .

PARK CITY, Utah — Benh Zeitlin hasn’t made a film in seven years since he exploded onto the scene with his Best Picture Oscar-nominated “Beasts of the Southern Wild” in 2013. Coming out of hibernation, the director’s “Wendy,” a take on J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan,” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival Sunday. Well, was his eagerly anticipated followup worth the wait?
To almost quote Barrie: “I do believe in Zeitlin! I do! I do!”
I know, everyone and their cousin seem to have a riff on the “Pan” story in a drawer. But “Wendy” finally wakes up the tired tale. For starters, there’s no white nightgowns, Brits or Cathy Rigby here. This is a uniquely American, and Caribbean, spin that quietly speaks to our working-class dreams.
Driving that point home, the story begins not in a metropolis, but in a rural southern diner owned by the mom of Wendy, James and Douglas Darling. One day, sitting on his barstool, little Dougo tells the room he’s going to grow up to be a pirate, but his grandma disagrees. “You’re going to be a mop and broom man,” she says.
As a freight train loudly passes by outside, Dougo (Gage Naquin) angrily mutters under his breath, “I’m not gonna be a mop and broom man.” He then runs away, jumps aboard the locomotive and disappears forever.
Months later, a poster of his picture is posted on the diner wall that says “Lost Boy.” One night when the magic vehicle passes by again, Wendy (Devin France) and James (Gavin Naquin) spot a small boy running atop it — Peter! — and like their brother, they jump on. Red lights dance, children play, our hearts leap.
If you haven’t guessed, in this version, the children don’t fly with Peter to Neverland — they hop aboard a choo-choo. Is there anything more American than the lure of a train siren in a small town?
They arrive in Neverland — here only referred to as Peter’s Island — a volcanic place kept thriving by “mother,” a whale-like, glowing fish with magical abilities. Dougo is there! Kids never grow up, unless they start to feel the weight of the world. Peter (the adorable Yashua Mack), clad in a dirty red school blazer, encourages his new recruits to let worries go in one ear and out the other, because he’s seen others fall to adult pressures.
There is a group of former Lost Boys on the island who quickly aged, and now are treated as lepers in a faraway area — kinda like the Forbidden Zone in “The Planet of the Apes.” Those elders provide the film’s conflict, but don’t call them villains. “Wendy” is more nuanced than that.
What a gift Zeitlin has with children. He showed that special skill with “Beasts,” but does even more so here, with the kid ensemble being full of personality and entirely unrestrained. The freedom and unbridled joy they find on the island are contagious. It’s the one thing you’ll want to catch during cold and flu season.
The upcoming Oscars were not kind to Sundance. Two of the favored films from the 2019 festival — “The Farewell” and “The Report” — were left out of the 2020 nominations by the academy, which has caused some lingering doubts. But “Wendy” is a film I believe many will cherish, especially parents in the end, and it deserves to stick around through the next awards cycle. May “Wendy” never grow old.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Trump defense calls Rudy Giuliani ‘shiny object designed to distract you’

“ Rudy Giuliani is the House managers ’ colorful distraction , ” said attorney Jane Raskin during the first full day of defense arguments in Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
“ Mr .
Giuliani is just a minor player .
That shiny object designed to distract you.
” Raskin hailed the former New York City mayor ’ s resume as a “ legendary federal prosecutor ” and “ crime-busting mayor ” who became “ an internationally recognized expert on fighting corruption.
” Giuliani ’ s work in Ukraine was to defend Trump legally as his personal attorney , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of the president , she said .
“ Mayor Giuliani was President Trump ’ s personal attorney , but he was not on a political errand , ” Raskin said .
Raskin argued House Democrats ignored the fact that Giuliani began looking into Ukraine to defend Trump during special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation .
“ The House managers would have you believe that Mr. Giuliani is at the center of this controversy , ” Raskin said .
“ They have anointed him the proxy villain of the tale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Raskin said it was telling that House Democrats did not attempt to subpoena Giuliani to testify .
“ He was doing what good defense attorneys do , ” Raskin said .
“ To hear their presentation , you might think that Mayor Giuliani had parachuted into the president ’ s orbit in the spring of 2019 for the express purpose of carrying out a political hit job .
… Mayor Giuliani began investigating Ukraine corruption and interference in the 2020 election way back in November of 2018 , a full six months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and four months before the release of the Mueller report.
” Witnesses in House proceedings did not establish that he was executing a secret mission for Trump , Raskin said .
US diplomats testified that Trump told them in May to “ talk to Rudy ” about Ukraine .
But Raskin noted that US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testified he did not interpret the remark as an order and Trump ’ s special envoy to Ukraine at the time of the utterance , Kurt Volker , later testified that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instruction , just a comment.
” Raskin concluded her presentation with a defense of Giuliani ’ s lawyering if not his style .
“ The House managers may not like his style , you may not like his style , but one might argue that he is everything Clarence Darrow said a defense lawyer must be : outrageous , irreverent , blasphemous , a rogue , a renegade , ” Raskin said .
She hailed him as “ spot on ” when it came to the Russia investigation of Trump .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a two year siege on the presidency , two inspector general reports , and a $ 32 million special counsel investigation , turns out Rudy was spot on , ” Raskin said .
“ It seems to me if we are keeping score on who got it right on allegations of FISA abuse , egregious misconduct at the highest level of the FBI , alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia , and supposed obstruction of justice in connection with the special counsel investigation , the score is Mayor Giuliani four @ @ @ @ @ @

President Trump’s impeachment defense team said Monday that his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani was a “minor player” whose motive was misunderstood in pushing Ukraine to investigate Democrats.
“Rudy Giuliani is the House managers’ colorful distraction,” said attorney Jane Raskin during the first full day of defense arguments in Trump’s impeachment trial. “Mr. Giuliani is just a minor player. That shiny object designed to distract you.”
Raskin hailed the former New York City mayor’s resume as a “legendary federal prosecutor” and “crime-busting mayor” who became “an internationally recognized expert on fighting corruption.” Giuliani’s work in Ukraine was to defend Trump legally as his personal attorney, not to carry out a secret political hit on behalf of the president, she said. “Mayor Giuliani was President Trump’s personal attorney, but he was not on a political errand,” Raskin said.
Raskin argued House Democrats ignored the fact that Giuliani began looking into Ukraine to defend Trump during special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
“The House managers would have you believe that Mr. Giuliani is at the center of this controversy,” Raskin said. “They have anointed him the proxy villain of the tale, the leader of a rouge operation.”
Raskin said it was telling that House Democrats did not attempt to subpoena Giuliani to testify.
“He was doing what good defense attorneys do,” Raskin said. “To hear their presentation, you might think that Mayor Giuliani had parachuted into the president’s orbit in the spring of 2019 for the express purpose of carrying out a political hit job. … Mayor Giuliani began investigating Ukraine corruption and interference in the 2020 election way back in November of 2018, a full six months before Vice President Biden announced his candidacy and four months before the release of the Mueller report.”
Witnesses in House proceedings did not establish that he was executing a secret mission for Trump, Raskin said.
US diplomats testified that Trump told them in May to “talk to Rudy” about Ukraine. But Raskin noted that US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testified he did not interpret the remark as an order and Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine at the time of the utterance, Kurt Volker, later testified that he thought it was “not as an instruction, just a comment.”
Raskin concluded her presentation with a defense of Giuliani’s lawyering if not his style.
“The House managers may not like his style, you may not like his style, but one might argue that he is everything Clarence Darrow said a defense lawyer must be: outrageous, irreverent, blasphemous, a rogue, a renegade,” Raskin said.
She hailed him as “spot on” when it came to the Russia investigation of Trump.
“The fact is, in the end, after a two year siege on the presidency, two inspector general reports, and a $32 million special counsel investigation, turns out Rudy was spot on,” Raskin said.
“It seems to me if we are keeping score on who got it right on allegations of FISA abuse, egregious misconduct at the highest level of the FBI, alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, and supposed obstruction of justice in connection with the special counsel investigation, the score is Mayor Giuliani four, Mr Schiff zero.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--NBA postpones Lakers-Clippers game after Kobe Bryant death

LeBron James was spotted in tears , hugging multiple people and ...

The NBA fought through its grief Sunday, playing games in the wake of Lakers great Kobe Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash. The Lakers themselves will get more time to deal with the loss of one of the franchise’s legendary players before returning to the court.
The Lakers and Clippers game scheduled for Tuesday at Staples Center was postponed, the NBA announced Monday.
“The decision was made out of respect for the Lakers organization, which is deeply grieving the tragic loss of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash on Sunday,” the NBA said in a statement.
Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter were among nine killed Sunday in a Southern California helicopter crash. Bryant attended a handful of Lakers games with Gianna in recent years.
The makeup date for the game against the Clippers has not been announced. The Lakers’ next game is scheduled for Friday at home against Carmelo Anthony and the Trail Blazers.
Lakers star LeBron James and his teammates were very emotional upon landing in Los Angles and hearing the news of Bryant’s death Sunday after flying home from an East Coast road trip that included games against the Knicks and Nets.
Dwight Howard is the only current Laker to play with Bryant in LA, but many of the players knew the legend in some way. James and Anthony Davis were both members of U.S. Olympic teams with Bryant. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss was close with Bryant and team general manager Rob Pelinka was his agent during his time in the NBA.
“The Los Angeles Lakers would like to thank all of you for the tremendous outpouring of support and condolences,” the team said in a statement on Monday. “This is a very difficult time for all of us. We continue to support the Bryant family and will share more information as it is available.”
The Lakers have made grief counselors available to employees after the death of Bryant, who played 20 seasons with the franchise and won five NBA championships while reaching eight Finals.
The last time the NBA postponed a game was April 15, 2013, when the Celtics were scheduled to host the Pacers the night after the Boston Marathon bombing.
Bryant was an 18-time All-Star and 15-time All-NBA selection. James moved passed Bryant into the third place on the league’s all-time scoring list the night before the fatal crash.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--CDC monitoring 110 possible coronavirus cases in 26 states

More than a hundred people across 26 states are being monitored for possible cases of the new coronavirus , health officials said Monday .
The number of possible cases of the dangerous virus nearly doubled to 110 cases over four days , up from the 63 previously reported to be under surveillance , according to CNBC .
“ We understand that many people in the United States are worried about this virus and how it will affect Americans , ” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier , the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases .
“ Every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assess to see if our guidance or our response can be improved.
” Five patients diagnosed with the virus in the US after traveling to the Chinese city of Wuhan , where the outbreak began , officials said .
All of the patients are hospitalized and their close contacts are being monitored for symptoms .
“ At this time in the U.S. , this virus is not spreading in the community , ” Messonnier said , according to ABC News .
“ For that reason we continue to believe that the immediate health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general public is low at this time.
” Meanwhile , the death toll from the virus has climbed to 82 in China and has reached over 2,800 cases , as local officials struggle to contain the epidemic , the Guardian reported .
The US State Department issued a new travel advisory Monday , urging people to “ reconsider travel ” to China out of growing concerns about the virus .

More than a hundred people across 26 states are being monitored for possible cases of the new coronavirus, health officials said Monday.
The number of possible cases of the dangerous virus nearly doubled to 110 cases over four days, up from the 63 previously reported to be under surveillance, according to CNBC.
“We understand that many people in the United States are worried about this virus and how it will affect Americans,” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
“Every day we learn more, every day we assess to see if our guidance or our response can be improved.”
Five patients diagnosed with the virus in the US after traveling to the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began, officials said.
All of the patients are hospitalized and their close contacts are being monitored for symptoms.
“At this time in the U.S., this virus is not spreading in the community,” Messonnier said, according to ABC News. “For that reason we continue to believe that the immediate health risk from the new virus to the general public is low at this time.”
Meanwhile, the death toll from the virus has climbed to 82 in China and has reached over 2,800 cases, as local officials struggle to contain the epidemic, the Guardian reported.
The US State Department issued a new travel advisory Monday, urging people to “reconsider travel” to China out of growing concerns about the virus.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--How ‘Finding Your Roots’ became a cultural phenomenon

“ Finding Your Roots ” has become a phenomenon , attracting celebrity guests from Samuel L. Jackson to Anderson Cooper to Gloria Steinem — and it all began with host Henry Louis Gates Jr. receiving a piece of angry fan mail .
“ When I first started the series in 2005 , I only did African Americans , ” Gates , 69 , tells The Post .
“ We started with Oprah and Quincy [ Jones ] and the reaction was so electric , PBS immediately asked me to do another special … Then a lady of Russian Jewish ancestry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d always admired my stance on cultural diversity , but after watching the show , which was called ‘ African American Lives ’ she ’ d decided I was a big fat racist , because I only did black people .
She said , ‘ What about people like me , from eastern Europe ?
What about Asian people ?
’ ” That idea eventually became “ Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. ” Now in its sixth season ( Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ) the show traces the genealogy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis to authors such as George R.R .
Martin .
Each episode sees two to three different guests learning about their family history , with help from Gates .
“ My day job is I ’ m a professor at Harvard , and my goal is to teach my fellow countrymen and women as much about American and world history as we possibly can .
There ’ s no easier , more fluid way to do that than by telling the stories of the ancestors of entertainers or politicians or well-known people about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
“ We deconstruct ethnic identities to show that when the lights came down , everyone was sleeping with everyone else — that ’ s the way human history goes !
” Gates attributes this instinct towards uncovering people ’ s personal stories to his childhood in West Virginia , spent with parents with a flare for telling tales .
“ My father was a great storyteller , my mother actually used to write the obituaries for all the black people in the Potomac Valley in eastern West Virginia , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised with a writer and a storyteller .
The greatest way to educate is to make the lessons palatable , and there ’ s no way to make them more palatable than by good storytelling .
People stop me everywhere I go — airports , on the street , they ’ ll come up and say , ‘ Can I have a selfie ?
I love ‘ Finding Your Roots ’ !
” Of course , some of the information uncovered by “ Finding Your Roots ” is sensitive — and Gates says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind the scenes .
For instance , when Todd Smith ( aka rapper LL Cool J ) appeared on the show in 2016 , Gates and his research team discovered that Cool J ’ s mother was adopted .
“ I had to call him .
We have a protocol for telling people about what are called ‘ non-paternity events , ’ ” Gates explains .
“ If you ’ re a guest and your father wasn ’ t your father , I can ’ t tell you that in front of 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have to tell you that privately , and then you decide if you want to stay in the series or not .
If you stay in the series , we have to reveal that.
” This season ’ s guests on “ Roots ” include Sigourney Weaver in Tuesday ’ s episode .
“ Mrs .
Maisel ” star Tony Shalhoub will appear in a future episode , as well as “ Watchmen ” creator Damon Lindelof and his stars Regina King and Jean Smart .
Gates knows that latter trio thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HBO drama .
When Lindelof approached him about a small role , Gates initially declined .
“ I go , ‘ What ?
I ’ m busy , I ’ m making PBS films !
’ ” Gates says .
“ He kept writing to me and finally we had dinner and he said , ‘ Your work on the Tulsa riots in 1921 … contributed to the plot.
’ Now , here ’ s an example of how a history series on PBS helped to shape popular culture .
It was great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t know how it would fit in until they sent me a link a day before it was about to air , and then I see Regina King come up and talk to me and I ’ m a hologram .
It cracked me up .
I figure turnabout is fair play — we ’ re going to have an all ‘ Watchmen ’ episode [ of ‘ Finding Your Roots ’ ] .
”

“Finding Your Roots” has become a phenomenon, attracting celebrity guests from Samuel L. Jackson to Anderson Cooper to Gloria Steinem — and it all began with host Henry Louis Gates Jr. receiving a piece of angry fan mail.
“When I first started the series in 2005, I only did African Americans,” Gates, 69, tells The Post. “We started with Oprah and Quincy [Jones] and the reaction was so electric, PBS immediately asked me to do another special … Then a lady of Russian Jewish ancestry wrote to me and said she’d always admired my stance on cultural diversity, but after watching the show, which was called ‘African American Lives’ she’d decided I was a big fat racist, because I only did black people. She said, ‘What about people like me, from eastern Europe? What about Asian people?’”
That idea eventually became “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.” Now in its sixth season (Tuesdays at 8 p.m.) the show traces the genealogy of celebrities, from politicians such as John Lewis to authors such as George R.R. Martin. Each episode sees two to three different guests learning about their family history, with help from Gates.
“My day job is I’m a professor at Harvard, and my goal is to teach my fellow countrymen and women as much about American and world history as we possibly can. There’s no easier, more fluid way to do that than by telling the stories of the ancestors of entertainers or politicians or well-known people about whom the public is fascinated,” he says. “We deconstruct ethnic identities to show that when the lights came down, everyone was sleeping with everyone else — that’s the way human history goes!”
Gates attributes this instinct towards uncovering people’s personal stories to his childhood in West Virginia, spent with parents with a flare for telling tales.
“My father was a great storyteller, my mother actually used to write the obituaries for all the black people in the Potomac Valley in eastern West Virginia,” he says. “So I was raised with a writer and a storyteller. The greatest way to educate is to make the lessons palatable, and there’s no way to make them more palatable than by good storytelling. People stop me everywhere I go — airports, on the street, they’ll come up and say, ‘Can I have a selfie? I love ‘Finding Your Roots’!”
Of course, some of the information uncovered by “Finding Your Roots” is sensitive — and Gates says there’s a protocol he follows behind the scenes. For instance, when Todd Smith (aka rapper LL Cool J) appeared on the show in 2016, Gates and his research team discovered that Cool J’s mother was adopted.
“I had to call him. We have a protocol for telling people about what are called ‘non-paternity events,’” Gates explains. “If you’re a guest and your father wasn’t your father, I can’t tell you that in front of 2 million people [on camera]. I have to tell you that privately, and then you decide if you want to stay in the series or not. If you stay in the series, we have to reveal that.”
This season’s guests on “Roots” include Sigourney Weaver in Tuesday’s episode. “Mrs. Maisel” star Tony Shalhoub will appear in a future episode, as well as “Watchmen” creator Damon Lindelof and his stars Regina King and Jean Smart.
Gates knows that latter trio thanks to a cameo he had in the HBO drama. When Lindelof approached him about a small role, Gates initially declined.
“I go, ‘What? I’m busy, I’m making PBS films!’” Gates says. “He kept writing to me and finally we had dinner and he said, ‘Your work on the Tulsa riots in 1921 … contributed to the plot.’ Now, here’s an example of how a history series on PBS helped to shape popular culture. It was great. We shot my scene, I didn’t know how it would fit in until they sent me a link a day before it was about to air, and then I see Regina King come up and talk to me and I’m a hologram. It cracked me up. I figure turnabout is fair play — we’re going to have an all ‘Watchmen’ episode [of ‘Finding Your Roots’].”


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Can face masks help prevent the spread of coronavirus?

The swift spread of the deadly coronavirus is creating a shortage of clinical face masks — bought with the hope that the paper-thin respiratory shield will be enough to prevent transmission of the flu-like infection .
The virus , which originated in the city of Wuhan in China ’ s Hubei province , has already killed 82 people and infected more than 2,800 , with at least five cases identified in the US since the illness was discovered .
As a result , major cities in China and Australia have complained of a serious shortage of face masks , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ an uptick ” in face-mask sales — possibly prompted by concerned loved ones who plan to mail them to friends and relatives in vulnerable areas .
Meanwhile , online retailers such as Amazon and Target still appear to have a variety of masks available to ship within the US .
The inevitable hysteria surrounding this mysterious illness has prompted the question : Can face masks even keep us safe ?
“ We don ’ t have great evidence in their effectiveness , ” Dr. Vanessa Raabe , assistant professor of pediatric infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post .
She points out that most store-bought masks don ’ t have a “ firm seal ” around the nose and mouth , so “ you can still potentially breathe in infectious particles around the sides of the mask.
” In a medical setting , Raabe explains masks are to help prevent individuals who are already sick from spreading their illness to others , but “ it ’ s not a guarantee against infection.
” Since information about the coronavirus is very limited , she adds that researchers still aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There ’ s some evidence of person-to-person transmission , ” Raabe says , but the evidence is unclear whether the pathogen is airborne or spread through contact .
“ We are assuming that it probably can be spread through the air for short distances , ” she says .
For now , Raabe recommends frequent hand-washing ; avoiding contact with your eyes , nose or mouth ; and sneezing or coughing into a tissue or your upper arm rather than your bare hands — basically precautions we should already be taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illnesses , such as the flu , which she says “ is much more of a problem in the US.
” “ I would worry more about [ the flu ] than this new coronavirus , ” she says , adding that “ if you ’ re sick , stay at home ” and try to isolate yourself from others .

The swift spread of the deadly coronavirus is creating a shortage of clinical face masks — bought with the hope that the paper-thin respiratory shield will be enough to prevent transmission of the flu-like infection.
The virus, which originated in the city of Wuhan in China’s Hubei province, has already killed 82 people and infected more than 2,800, with at least five cases identified in the US since the illness was discovered.
As a result, major cities in China and Australia have complained of a serious shortage of face masks, while some New York City stores are reporting “an uptick” in face-mask sales — possibly prompted by concerned loved ones who plan to mail them to friends and relatives in vulnerable areas. Meanwhile, online retailers such as Amazon and Target still appear to have a variety of masks available to ship within the US.
The inevitable hysteria surrounding this mysterious illness has prompted the question: Can face masks even keep us safe?
“We don’t have great evidence in their effectiveness,” Dr. Vanessa Raabe, assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases at NYU Langone, tells The Post. She points out that most store-bought masks don’t have a “firm seal” around the nose and mouth, so “you can still potentially breathe in infectious particles around the sides of the mask.”
In a medical setting, Raabe explains masks are to help prevent individuals who are already sick from spreading their illness to others, but “it’s not a guarantee against infection.”
Since information about the coronavirus is very limited, she adds that researchers still aren’t quite sure how individuals contract the illness. “There’s some evidence of person-to-person transmission,” Raabe says, but the evidence is unclear whether the pathogen is airborne or spread through contact.
“We are assuming that it probably can be spread through the air for short distances,” she says.
For now, Raabe recommends frequent hand-washing; avoiding contact with your eyes, nose or mouth; and sneezing or coughing into a tissue or your upper arm rather than your bare hands — basically precautions we should already be taking to prevent the transmission of other viral illnesses, such as the flu, which she says “is much more of a problem in the US.”
“I would worry more about [the flu] than this new coronavirus,” she says, adding that “if you’re sick, stay at home” and try to isolate yourself from others.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Max Rose vows to hunt down deer himself if de Blasio doesn’t act

After three years of snipping , $ 4.1 million worth of deer ...

One shot, Bill. One shot.
Staten Island Rep. Max Rose did his best impression of Robert De Niro in “The Deer Hunter” Monday, telling a local newspaper that if Mayor Bill de Blasio won’t get more proactive about curbing the antler population in his district he’s going to grab his rifle and take care of the hoofed menaces himself.
Rose made the vow after complaining that the mayor’s deer vasectomy policy isn’t doing enough to curb the number of deer running across the borough and causing traffic accidents.
“They should also be thinking about a cull, why we are not seriously considering this is ridiculous to me,” Rose told The Staten Island Advance.
The first-term Democrat, who is facing a strong challenge from the GOP in the politically conservative district, vowed he would be the “first one out there” deer hunting if a cull program is approved.
“I’ll build a little hide for myself, I’ll go back to my glory days and I’ll start taking down some of these deer,” the Purple Heart Army veteran said.
“I fear we are waiting for … a massive accident. Why does it take someone getting hurt or, god forbid, dying, for us to say ‘what we’re doing isn’t working when it comes to the deer population,” Rose told the newspaper’s editorial board.
“I don’t get it, we should be leaving every option on the table to address this, what they’re doing right now is not working.”
The city has been performing vasectomies on the Island’s bucks to control the deer population but deer collisions with cars and an increase in lyme disease remain pressing problems, borough officials say.
Rose, a first-term Democratic congressman facing re-election this fall, said he doesn’t give a hoot what animal rights activists think about him supporting the controlled killing of deer.
“It speaks to everything that’s wrong with the left. Everything,” he told the newspaper.
“You complain about climate change, and then you fly to some different destination every other week. You complain about trying to cull deer so we can deal with this enormous problem that we have, and then you go out and you have no problem feasting on meat that was killed in god knows how many different ways, inhumane and otherwise,” he griped.
“I’m so tired of their hypocrisy, so tired of it,” Rose said.
In the Oscar-winning 1978 movie “The Deer Hunter,” De Niro plays Michael Vronsky, a Pittsburgh steelworker who goes deer hunting with his pals before they go off to fight in Vietnam. His credo is that the animal must be killed with just one shot so that it doesn’t suffer.
De Blasio’s office did not immediately return a request for comment.
But the Parks Department said the number of deer-vehicle collisions dropped from 103 in 2018 to 77 in 2019.
The city has sterilized 98 percent of bucks, the agency said, and the deer population has dropped by 15 percent since 2016, with fawn births plummeting by 77 percent during that time.
“The sterilization study is only one component of our integrated deer impact management plan: we focus on education, protecting wild areas, and robust data collection. We are encouraged by the results of our sterilization work and are not pursuing lethal management,” said Parks Department spokeswoman Meghan Lalor.


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Supreme Court paves way for Trump admin. to enforce ‘public charge’ rule

A divided Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the Trump administration can make it harder for public benefits recipients to obtain visas and green cards .
The 5-4 vote overturned a nationwide freeze put in place by lower courts , which blocked enforcement of changes to the “ public charge ” rule .
The policy expands the number of programs whose recipients could be denied immigration assistance .
The rule previously only covered cash benefits but is now expanded to those receiving food stamps , housing vouchers and certain Medicaid benefits .
The justices ’ order reversed a ruling from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York that had kept in a place a nationwide hold on the policy following lawsuits that have been filed against it .
The court ’ s four liberal justices , Stephen Breyer , Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor , would have prevented the new policy from taking effect .
Federal appeals courts in San Francisco and Richmond , Va. , had previously overturned trial court rulings against the policy .
An injunction in Illinois remains in effect , but applies only to that state .
The lawsuits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent residency must now show they wouldn ’ t be public charges , or burdens to the country .
In a separate opinion , Justice Neil Gorsuch urged his colleagues to confront the “ real problem ” of so-called nationwide injunctions , orders issued by a single judge that apply everywhere .
In this case , even though the administration won rulings in two different appellate courts covering 14 states , its policy could not take effect .
“ What in this gamesmanship and chaos can we be proud of ?
” Gorsuch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clarence Thomas .

A divided Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the Trump administration can make it harder for public benefits recipients to obtain visas and green cards.
The 5-4 vote overturned a nationwide freeze put in place by lower courts, which blocked enforcement of changes to the “public charge” rule.
The policy expands the number of programs whose recipients could be denied immigration assistance. The rule previously only covered cash benefits but is now expanded to those receiving food stamps, housing vouchers and certain Medicaid benefits.
The justices’ order reversed a ruling from the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York that had kept in a place a nationwide hold on the policy following lawsuits that have been filed against it.
The court’s four liberal justices, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, would have prevented the new policy from taking effect.
Federal appeals courts in San Francisco and Richmond, Va., had previously overturned trial court rulings against the policy. An injunction in Illinois remains in effect, but applies only to that state.
The lawsuits will continue, but immigrants applying for permanent residency must now show they wouldn’t be public charges, or burdens to the country.
In a separate opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch urged his colleagues to confront the “real problem” of so-called nationwide injunctions, orders issued by a single judge that apply everywhere. In this case, even though the administration won rulings in two different appellate courts covering 14 states, its policy could not take effect.
“What in this gamesmanship and chaos can we be proud of?” Gorsuch wrote in an opinion joined by Justice Clarence Thomas.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-01-27--Kobe Bryant wanted ‘to die young,’ friend Tracy McGrady says

NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady opened up about the death of Kobe Bryant , recounting how in the past his friend told him he wanted “ to die young.
” McGrady , who retired from the league in 2013 , made the stunning revelation Monday on ESPN ’ s “ The Jump.
” “ This sounds crazy , but Kobe spoke this , he spoke this , ” the 40-year-old shooting guard told host Rachel Nichols , who seemed taken aback .
“ He used to say all the time , ‘ I want to die young , ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tear from his face .
Bryant , according to McGrady , would also say , ” ‘ I want to be immortalized and , you know , have my career be better than Michael Jordan and I want to die young.
’ ” McGrady said he learned of Bryant ’ s death Sunday while dancing with his daughter at an event for his wife .
“ They came and told me the news and I just couldn ’ t believe it , ” McGrady said .
“ Just like everybody else , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 41 , died Sunday morning , along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others , when his chopper crashed in Calabasas on their way to a youth basketball tournament .

NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady opened up about the death of Kobe Bryant, recounting how in the past his friend told him he wanted “to die young.”
McGrady, who retired from the league in 2013, made the stunning revelation Monday on ESPN’s “The Jump.”
“This sounds crazy, but Kobe spoke this, he spoke this,” the 40-year-old shooting guard told host Rachel Nichols, who seemed taken aback.
“He used to say all the time, ‘I want to die young,’ ” he added, while wiping a tear from his face.
Bryant, according to McGrady, would also say, ” ‘I want to be immortalized and, you know, have my career be better than Michael Jordan and I want to die young.’ ”
McGrady said he learned of Bryant’s death Sunday while dancing with his daughter at an event for his wife.
“They came and told me the news and I just couldn’t believe it,” McGrady said. “Just like everybody else, but … I’m devastated.”
Bryant, 41, died Sunday morning, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others when his chopper crashed in Calabasas on their way to a youth basketball tournament.


newyorkpost--2020-01-28--Notorious KFC location amps up security with ‘chicken wire’

Does the “ C ” in KFC now stand for “ chicken wire ” ?
After a string of brutal @ @ @ @ @ Chicken in Birmingham , England , this location installed metal security wires between patrons and @ @ @ @ @ the course of 12 months have included robberies , assaults and customers jumping over the @ @ @ @ @ is hoping the drastic measure will make its employees feel safer at work .

Does the “C” in KFC now stand for “chicken wire”? After a string of brutal attacks at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Birmingham, England, this location installed metal security wires between patrons and staff. Violent incidents over the course of 12 months have included robberies, assaults and customers jumping over the counter. The fast-food franchise is hoping the drastic measure will make its employees feel safer at work.
Subscribe to our YouTube!