newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Stunning cop body-cam footage captures Nashville Christmas bomb blast

Chilling police body-camera footage released Monday captures the uneasy calm before the Nashville Christmas bombing — then the deafening blast itself and the chaos in the minutes after .
The stunning footage was recorded by the camera of Officer Michael Sipos , one of the first six cops on scene to investigate the suspicious RV that blared an audio warning to evacuate around 6:30 a.m. Christmas morning .
The nearly 13-minute video opens with Sipos and his fellow cops urging area residents to clear out — as the RV ’ s own ominous message echoes up and down a mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objective is to evacuate these buildings now , ” a woman ’ s voice can be heard saying on the automated recording emanating from the RV .
“ Do not approach this vehicle.
” The cops can be heard commenting on the unnerving scene .
“ That ’ s so weird , ” said Sipos .
“ That ’ s like something out of a movie.
” “ Like ‘ The Purge ? '
” another cop can be heard asking , referring to the dystopian horror series .
Eerily undercutting the tension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Around the Christmas Tree ” can be heard playing on the speaker of a closed storefront as the cops walk by .
Passing the RV , one lawman noted that the vehicle sat right outside a key AT & T building .
“ That building that it ’ s next to is the building that houses all the hardlines for phones throughout the southeast , ” the officer said .
Investigators have since theorized that the suicide bomber , Anthony Quinn Warner , may have targeted the building with the intent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paranoid fear of 5G cellular technology and surveillance .
Sipos eventually turned off Second Avenue , heading back to his marked car .
Just seconds after Sipos threw open the trunk , the thunderous explosion can be heard in the distance , followed by a cacophony of car alarms .
Sipos calmly donned a protective vest , closed the trunk and headed back toward Second Avenue , the path back now littered with shards of broken glass and other shrapnel .
He returned to Second Avenue in time for his camera to capture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handful of shaken locals emerged from buildings , asking questions for which the cops had no answers .
Intermittent bangs could be heard in the minutes following the larger blast , which one officer warned could be ammunition inside the RV exploding in the heat .
“ We ’ re hearing secondaries .
It could be ammunition inside the vehicle , ” one cop could be heard saying over police radio .
“ Do not get in the open .
Do not get out in the open on Second Avenue.
” As medics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too did more curious onlookers asking what happened .
“ Dude , trust me , go that way , ” Sipos directed one civilian , gesturing away from the scene of the blast .
The explosion killed Warner , wounded three other people and caused massive collateral damage , including to phone service throughout Tennessee and the south .
Investigators have said that the 63-year-old IT expert appears to have acted alone .

Chilling police body-camera footage released Monday captures the uneasy calm before the Nashville Christmas bombing — then the deafening blast itself and the chaos in the minutes after.
The stunning footage was recorded by the camera of Officer Michael Sipos, one of the first six cops on scene to investigate the suspicious RV that blared an audio warning to evacuate around 6:30 a.m. Christmas morning.
The nearly 13-minute video opens with Sipos and his fellow cops urging area residents to clear out — as the RV’s own ominous message echoes up and down a mostly deserted Second Avenue.
“Your primary objective is to evacuate these buildings now,” a woman’s voice can be heard saying on the automated recording emanating from the RV. “Do not approach this vehicle.”
The cops can be heard commenting on the unnerving scene.
“That’s so weird,” said Sipos. “That’s like something out of a movie.”
“Like ‘The Purge’?” another cop can be heard asking, referring to the dystopian horror series.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Advertisement Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Advertisement
Eerily undercutting the tension, Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” can be heard playing on the speaker of a closed storefront as the cops walk by.
Passing the RV, one lawman noted that the vehicle sat right outside a key AT&T building.
“That building that it’s next to is the building that houses all the hardlines for phones throughout the Southeast,” the officer said.
“Makes sense,” replied another. “Good spot to put a bomb.”
Investigators have since theorized that the suicide bomber, Anthony Quinn Warner, may have targeted the building with the intent of crippling service, possibly due to a paranoid fear of 5G cellular technology and surveillance.
Sipos eventually turned off Second Avenue, heading back to his marked car.
Just seconds after Sipos threw open the trunk, the thunderous explosion can be heard in the distance, followed by a cacophony of car alarms.
Sipos calmly donned a protective vest, closed the trunk and headed back toward Second Avenue, the path back now littered with shards of broken glass and other shrapnel.
He returned to Second Avenue in time for his camera to capture the RV in flames, and a handful of shaken locals emerging from buildings, asking questions for which the cops had no answers.
Intermittent bangs could be heard in the minutes following the larger blast, which one officer warned could be ammunition inside the RV exploding in the heat.
“We’re hearing secondaries. It could be ammunition inside the vehicle,” one cop could be heard saying over police radio. “Do not get in the open. Do not get out in the open on Second Avenue.”
As medics and firefighters flooded the scene, so too did more curious onlookers asking what happened.
“Dude, trust me, go that way,” Sipos directed one civilian, gesturing away from the scene of the blast.
The explosion killed Warner, wounded three other people and caused massive collateral damage, including to phone service throughout Tennessee and the South.
Investigators have said the 63-year-old IT expert appears to have acted alone.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Giants aren’t apologizing for wild NFL playoff scenario

What do you do with things that are broken ?
Throw ...

Blake Martinez saw his head coach get fired in December 2018 and played in two meaningless games.
What happened to the Packers then is what normally happens to six-win teams in the NFL. This is not.
If Martinez’s Giants beat the Cowboys on Sunday to get to six wins, they have a chance to become the first-ever 10-loss playoff team, win a division title and host a wild-card game.
In any other division, the Giants would be at least five games out of first place and playing out the stretch. But the NFC East and No. 4 seed in the playoffs — deserved or not — goes to Washington with a win over the Eagles, or to the Giants-Cowboys winner if Washington loses.
“I don’t think the record is the biggest thing to look at,” Martinez said. “I think you look at a team as how they progressed throughout the season, their style of play. Once you get in the playoffs, it really becomes 0-0. You can be a team that’s 16-0, lose the first game and all of a sudden you are out. You could be a team that’s 6-10 and win all the way through. Once you are in that position, the best team wins.”
The Giants boarded a train Sunday night in Baltimore with their fate all but sealed by a 27-13 loss to the Ravens. By the time the train stopped, they were granted a reprieve because Washington and Philadelphia both lost. If either team had won, the Giants would’ve been eliminated.
Blake Martinez (right) and the Giants still could make the playoffs. AP
“We had the games streaming in the background and had a little conference room in the front car that I was in,” coach Joe Judge said. “Me and [coordinator] Pat Graham went through the defensive tape together and we were checking scores throughout the league. That’s normal custom.”
Players followed the scores on phone apps but couldn’t high-five in celebration because of COVID-19 social distancing trackers. When the Giants arrived back at team headquarters, Judge called a meeting in the practice bubble to address the playoff scenarios.
“Thinking you’re going to be eliminated to having an opportunity,” center Nick Gates said, “it was a good feeling even though we would’ve rather won the game and given ourselves a better opportunity.”
No matter which team goes to the playoffs, the NFC East winner will be the third playoff team ever with a losing record.
“We’re going to keep our focus on Dallas. It’s the only thing we can control,” Judge said. “We’re not focused on the playoffs. It’s a hypothetical game. At the same time, it’s human nature that they are very conscious of what’s going on around the league and it would be naïve or ignorant to pretend they are not paying attention.”
The Giants are in this position because of a four-game winning streak at midseason and a little luck: The Cowboys have started four different quarterbacks and Washington could start its fourth (Taylor Heinecke) this week. The last playoff team to use four different starting quarterbacks was the 2015 Texans, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“Things panned out the way they did,” Martinez said. “Obviously, we have the opportunities ahead of us. I think that’s the biggest thing, finishing the season off. Doing whatever we can to take advantage of what’s presented to us.”
After losing three straight against a step up in competition, the Giants can show progress by simply snapping a seven-game losing streak against the evenly matched Cowboys and letting the chips fall where they may four hours later when the pressure is on Washington at kickoff in prime time.
“You want every game you ever play to be relevant,” Judge said. “The opportunity that’s really sitting in front of us that we have to take advantage of is to play a division rival and play the last game of the season with our best football. How you improve collectively throughout the year is the ultimate measure of what you are trying to do. I’ve never talked about a record as being a goal in any situation I’ve been in.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Blame BLM for Gotham’s sidewalk chaos

Blame BLM for Gotham’s sidewalk chaos

What ’ s the cause of the “ mayhem in the streets ” that has taken over sidewalks in the outer boroughs ?
Sure , everyone points the finger at the incompetence and stupidity of Mayor de Blasio .
Gotham ’ s astonishing decline on his watch is an indisputable matter of record , and as we head into the last year of his reign of error , it ’ s no surprise that things are getting worse .
But the street-level chaos The Post recently reported is especially symptomatic of what has happened to Gotham in this year of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sidewalks with vendors , 90 percent of whom don ’ t have licenses , is crushing the prospects of many of the city ’ s small businesses .
Those prospects were already dim owing to the COVID-19 lockdowns — this , even while big-box stores and Amazon , which are unaffected by the coronavirus rules , make obscene profits .
The refusal to enforce the rules on street vendors is a direct result of the way the Black Lives Matter protests have pushed de Blasio to ditch the last vestiges of broken-windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped save the Big Apple in the 1990s ; even Hizzoner has acknowledged it as a pillar of the city ’ s livability .
The abandonment of that successful effort — cracking down against misdemeanors so as to prevent even more serious crimes — is a clear indication that the city is sinking under the weight of left-wing ideology .
The broken-windows reversal will continue to chase more New Yorkers out of town and likewise push prosperity out of reach for ordinary Gothamites .
Yes , the explosion of vendors is partly a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact is , illegal stands that take up most of the space on sidewalks throughout the city both impede traffic to existing stores and steal trade away from businesses that are paying taxes and rent and remain subject to the city ’ s arcane rules governing brick-and-mortar stores .
Everyone can sympathize with poor and working-class New Yorkers who are struggling to get by .
As the educated classes work remotely from home while complaining about how they miss going on vacation , those not so fortunate see hawking goods on the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession .
But letting the vendor situation get out of hand is a knife in the heart to the small businesses that are the pathway to prosperity for so many immigrants and others seeking their share of the American dream .
This has happened as a direct result of the pressure put on de Blasio by his radical allies , to prevent the police from doing their jobs .
In June and July , a violent rabble took over the streets to , er , “ peacefully ” protest police brutality .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to slash $ 1 billion from the NYPD budget .
Our leaders also switched enforcement of code violations from the cops to the Department of Consumer Affairs .
The result has been a predictable collapse of the rule of law in the streets .
Leftists celebrated and claimed it was belated justice for the 2014 death of illegal-cigarette vendor Eric Garner while in police custody .
But the decision is killing what ’ s left of the city ’ s small businesses .
It ’ s also creating an increasingly dangerous situation on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigate , as well as allowing disreputable vendors to sell unsafe food , like the repugnant , worm-filled crabs The Post reported on .
Too many illegal street vendors may not sound like a crisis in a city already facing economic collapse and the social pathologies that Hizzoner ’ s leftist allies have imposed on it .
But it ’ s far more important than you might think .
When both criminals and ordinary citizens understand that reasonable regulations that govern daily life won ’ t be enforced , that ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rule of law .
If de Blasio doesn ’ t reverse the ruling on code enforcement for street vendors , it ’ s one more sign that whoever it is who succeeds him in a little more than a year will inherit a city in a state of moral and economic collapse .
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNS.org .

What’s the cause of the “mayhem in the streets” that has taken over sidewalks in the outer boroughs?
Sure, everyone points the finger at the incompetence and stupidity of Mayor de Blasio. Gotham’s astonishing decline on his watch is an indisputable matter of record, and as we head into the last year of his reign of error, it’s no surprise that things are getting worse.
But the street-level chaos The Post recently reported is especially symptomatic of what has happened to Gotham in this year of pandemic and riots. The clogging of the sidewalks with vendors, 90 percent of whom don’t have licenses, is crushing the prospects of many of the city’s small businesses. Those prospects were already dim owing to the COVID-19 lockdowns — this, even while big-box stores and Amazon, which are unaffected by the coronavirus rules, make obscene profits.
The illegal-vendor disaster didn’t just happen, willy-nilly.
The refusal to enforce the rules on street vendors is a direct result of the way the Black Lives Matter protests have pushed de Blasio to ditch the last vestiges of broken-windows policing. That vision of law enforcement helped save the Big Apple in the 1990s; even Hizzoner has acknowledged it as a pillar of the city’s livability.
The abandonment of that successful effort — cracking down against misdemeanors so as to prevent even more serious crimes — is a clear indication that the city is sinking under the weight of left-wing ideology. The broken-windows reversal will continue to chase more New Yorkers out of town and likewise push prosperity out of reach for ordinary Gothamites.
Yes, the explosion of vendors is partly a product of pandemic privation. But the fact is, illegal stands that take up most of the space on sidewalks throughout the city both impede traffic to existing stores and steal trade away from businesses that are paying taxes and rent and remain subject to the city’s arcane rules governing brick-and-mortar stores.
Everyone can sympathize with poor and working-class New Yorkers who are struggling to get by. As the educated classes work remotely from home while complaining about how they miss going on vacation, those not so fortunate see hawking goods on the streets as their last resort amid a lockdown recession. But letting the vendor situation get out of hand is a knife in the heart to the small businesses that are the pathway to prosperity for so many immigrants and others seeking their share of the American dream.
This has happened as a direct result of the pressure put on de Blasio by his radical allies, to prevent the police from doing their jobs.
In June and July, a violent rabble took over the streets to, er, “peacefully” protest police brutality. In response, the City Council disgracefully agreed to slash $1 billion from the NYPD budget. Our leaders also switched enforcement of code violations from the cops to the Department of Consumer Affairs. The result has been a predictable collapse of the rule of law in the streets.
Leftists celebrated and claimed it was belated justice for the 2014 death of illegal-cigarette vendor Eric Garner while in police custody. But the decision is killing what’s left of the city’s small businesses.
It’s also creating an increasingly dangerous situation on the sidewalks, making them hard to navigate, as well as allowing disreputable vendors to sell unsafe food, like the repugnant, worm-filled crabs The Post reported on.
Too many illegal street vendors may not sound like a crisis in a city already facing economic collapse and the social pathologies that Hizzoner’s leftist allies have imposed on it. But it’s far more important than you might think. When both criminals and ordinary citizens understand that reasonable regulations that govern daily life won’t be enforced, that’s a green light for a complete collapse of the rule of law.
If de Blasio doesn’t reverse the ruling on code enforcement for street vendors, it’s one more sign that whoever it is who succeeds him in a little more than a year will inherit a city in a state of moral and economic collapse.
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNS.org.
Twitter: @JonathanS_Tobin


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Hillsong church ‘operated like a nightclub’ with VIP treatment

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Scandal-ridden Hillsong Church was so obsessed with being the hippest ministry that it operated its church services like a nightclub to ensure that its most fashionable followers got special treatment , a former insider tells us .
The church once held its weekly New York services at concert venue Gramercy Theatre and we ’ re told VIP members were able to reserve seats — while the regular flock had to wait for hours to get a good spot .
“ They rented out the space every Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this VIP congregation with reserved spots for celebrities , influencers and nightlife people in the know , ” a source who works nightlife told Page Six .
“ There were probably , like , 100 seats reserved for notables and regular people would line up to get one of the few seats from the back row … I ’ m talking they ’ d show up an hour or two before the church opened , ” the source said , “ A guy like me , I could show up five minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d hit up one of my friends and be like , ‘ Hey , I ’ m coming to service with a plus-one , ’ and they ’ d have two seats for me just like that .
It ’ s one of those things where they were treating the church with a nightclub mentality.
” There were plenty of other less-glamorous spots available .
At its peak , Hillsong counted regulars like Justin Bieber , Kim Kardashian , Chris Pratt and and Selena Gomez as some of its famous members .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ revelations that the founder of its US wing , Carl Lentz , had a series of affairs .
It no longer uses Gramercy Theatre , and has been online-only since COVID-19 hit .
A rep for the church didn ’ t immediately get back to us .

Blessed are the … VIPs.
Scandal-ridden Hillsong Church was so obsessed with being the hippest ministry that it operated its church services like a nightclub to ensure that its most fashionable followers got special treatment, a former insider tells us.
The church once held its weekly New York services at concert venue Gramercy Theatre and we’re told VIP members were able to reserve seats — while the regular flock had to wait for hours to get a good spot.
“They rented out the space every Sunday to hold their services and they had like this VIP congregation with reserved spots for celebrities, influencers and nightlife people in the know,” a source who works nightlife told Page Six.
“There were probably, like, 100 seats reserved for notables and regular people would line up to get one of the few seats from the back row … I’m talking they’d show up an hour or two before the church opened,” the source said, “A guy like me, I could show up five minutes before and get a seat. I’d hit up one of my friends and be like, ‘Hey, I’m coming to service with a plus-one,’ and they’d have two seats for me just like that. It’s one of those things where they were treating the church with a nightclub mentality.”
There were plenty of other less-glamorous spots available.
At its peak, Hillsong counted regulars like Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian, Chris Pratt and and Selena Gomez as some of its famous members.
The church has recently been rocked by revelations that the founder of its US wing, Carl Lentz, had a series of affairs.
It no longer uses Gramercy Theatre, and has been online-only since COVID-19 hit.
A rep for the church didn’t immediately get back to us.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Dabo Swinney sparks more Clemson-Ohio State jabs before playoff rematch

College football appears to have made it .
It survived .
It ...

Ohio State didn’t need any extra motivation. The Buckeyes already had the memory of last year’s crushing loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinals seared into their brains, the pain and anguish of blowing a 16-0 lead with a chance to play for the national championship.
And now the coach who beat them last year, ending third-ranked Ohio State’s season, was questioning them. In the final Amway Coaches Poll ballot last week, Dabo Swinney didn’t even rank Ohio State in the top 10. He placed them 11th.
“We definitely heard about it. It was just fuel to our fire,” wide receiver Garrett Wilson said over Zoom on Monday, five days before the two teams meet in the Sugar Bowl on Friday in New Orleans. “I’m not gonna sit here and say we didn’t hear about it and didn’t react to it.”
All-American offensive guard Wyatt Davis echoed Wilson, saying, “We’re going into this game not respected at all.”
Swinney took a step back somewhat, saying his decision to rank the Buckeyes 11th had very little to do with what he thought of them as a team. It was the result of them playing only six games due to the Big Ten starting late and two of their games getting canceled due to COVID-19. Others, like Clemson, Alabama and Notre Dame, have played 11 games.
“I wanted to recognize the teams that played nine games or more,” Swinney said. “And so, if you didn’t play nine games, I just didn’t consider you for the top 10. That’s why they were 11.”
“Obviously, they’re a great team,” Swinney added. “They’re plenty good enough and talented enough to beat us and good enough to win the national championship. But, in my opinion, I don’t think that it’s right that three teams have to play 13 games to win it all and one team has to play eight.”
Swinney has made tweaking Ohio State somewhat of a habit of late. He recently told ESPN preparing for the Buckeyes would be a “quick study” and a “little bit easier” than normal because they only played six games. Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson shot back, tweeting that he missed some of his 25th wedding anniversary because he was stuck in the office studying No. 2 Clemson’s game film against The Citadel.
“Missed Out on a Great Night with my Lovely Bride — Got Some Great Triple Option Plays!” Wilson tweeted.
“I could probably run for governor of Michigan and probably have a good chance,” Swinney joked on Monday. “I’m not that popular in Ohio.”
Ohio State coach Ryan Day added to this back-and-forth himself on Monday, alluding to Clemson’s alleged signal-stealing that was recently detailed by Sports Illustrated, when asked about matching wits with defensive coordinator Brent Venables. The practice is legal.
“He seems to always know exactly what the other team is doing in terms of the plays that they’re running each play and seems to call the right defense into that play a lot,” Day said. “Why that is, I don’t really know. But I can tell you that he’s been doing it for a long time, and it’s a good challenge.”
Swinney knew his ranking would make news. The final coaches poll votes are made public. Day, no doubt, knew his comment about Venables would draw attention, too. Neither coach could help himself, adding to the hype for this heavily anticipated playoff rematch.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Albany sets its sights on landlords

Albany sets its sights on landlords

Not satisfied with the devastating pain Albany has inflicted on restaurant owners , lawmakers are hoping to deal a similar blow to landlords , with an enormously irresponsible expanded ban on rent evictions that will let virtually anyone skip rent until at least May 1 , just by filling out a form .
No joke : Under the new law , which Gov .
Cuomo supports , tenants who ’ d rather not pay their monthly rent can simply fill out a form claiming they ’ re suffering “ hardship , ” present it to their landlord — and poof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eviction at least until May .
The law also puts all eviction proceedings on hold for at least 60 days .
Meanwhile , Cuomo and President Trump have also extended state and federal eviction bans .
But the new law would go beyond that , granting tenants protection without even making them prove they ’ ve really endured hardship as a result of the pandemic .
And landlords won ’ t get a chance to challenge tenants ’ claims .
So anyone — no matter how rich or how well they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a form and delay ( if not eventually get out of ) paying their rent .
Albany must think landlords don ’ t have bills or are swimming in extra cash .
The truth is , many are struggling as much , if not more , than their tenants .
Property owners are already $ 500 million behind in their own property-tax bills , and another $ 13.7 billion is due next Monday .
And most can ’ t cry hardship .
The last thing the city needs is for building owners to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tax payments or maybe even abandoning their properties altogether .
“ Closing the courts for a few months will not relieve the massive debt that tens of thousands of renters face , or provide any financial relief to the hundreds of housing providers who have provided safe , clean homes to millions of New Yorkers during the COVID-19 emergency , ” says Community Housing Improvement Program head Jay Martin , who represents small-building owners .
“ If renters interpret this bill as a justification to not pay rent , the damage to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immense.
” He ’ s right .
Even if you favor a halt to evictions , this law goes way too far .
If Cuomo lets it take effect , it ’ ll only compound the COVID damage he ’ s already caused .

Not satisfied with the devastating pain Albany has inflicted on restaurant owners, lawmakers are hoping to deal a similar blow to landlords, with an enormously irresponsible expanded ban on rent evictions that will let virtually anyone skip rent until at least May 1, just by filling out a form.
No joke: Under the new law, which Gov. Cuomo supports, tenants who’d rather not pay their monthly rent can simply fill out a form claiming they’re suffering “hardship,” present it to their landlord — and poof: They’ll be protected from eviction at least until May. The law also puts all eviction proceedings on hold for at least 60 days.
Meanwhile, Cuomo and President Trump have also extended state and federal eviction bans. But the new law would go beyond that, granting tenants protection without even making them prove they’ve really endured hardship as a result of the pandemic. And landlords won’t get a chance to challenge tenants’ claims.
So anyone — no matter how rich or how well they’ve done during the lockdowns — can file a form and delay (if not eventually get out of) paying their rent.
Albany must think landlords don’t have bills or are swimming in extra cash. The truth is, many are struggling as much, if not more, than their tenants. Property owners are already $500 million behind in their own property-tax bills, and another $13.7 billion is due next Monday. And most can’t cry hardship.
The last thing the city needs is for building owners to suddenly go belly-up, ignoring maintenance needs and tax payments or maybe even abandoning their properties altogether.
“Closing the courts for a few months will not relieve the massive debt that tens of thousands of renters face, or provide any financial relief to the hundreds of housing providers who have provided safe, clean homes to millions of New Yorkers during the COVID-19 emergency,” says Community Housing Improvement Program head Jay Martin, who represents small-building owners. “If renters interpret this bill as a justification to not pay rent, the damage to our economy and local budgets will be immense.”
He’s right. Even if you favor a halt to evictions, this law goes way too far. If Cuomo lets it take effect, it’ll only compound the COVID damage he’s already caused.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Amid pandemic’s pain, Americans show their generous side

For all the pain and division 2020 threw at us , Americans responded with that classic red-white-and-blue spirit of giving .
In its third-quarter analysis of charitable giving , the Association of Fundraising Professionals reports a 7.6 percent jump in donations to small and mid-sized charities from 2019 .
This marks the second consecutive quarter increase from last year .
Since the start of the outbreak , new donors are up 11.7 percent .
According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project ’ s Growth in Giving Database , which partners with the AFP , the biggest growth has been in small-amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , which soared 17.1 percent , compared with 6.9 percent for gifts valued at $ 1,000 or more .
Turns out more people from every financial bracket have been setting aside some cash to give to struggling communities .
On GoFundMe this year , 70 percent of donations were made in under $ 50 amounts ; only 40 percent were in 2019 .
On the ninth annual Giving Tuesday ( which this year fell on Dec. 1 ) , 34.8 million people gave a total of $ 2.47 billion to different charities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a 25 percent spike in funds and 29 percent in participants from last year .
The best news : That level of charity isn ’ t expected to fade in the last quarter of the year .
As new vaccines offer grounds to believe 2021 will leave COVID behind , it ’ s heartening to hope that spirit of generosity will continue well into the new year — and beyond .

For all the pain and division 2020 threw at us, Americans responded with that classic red-white-and-blue spirit of giving.
In its third-quarter analysis of charitable giving, the Association of Fundraising Professionals reports a 7.6 percent jump in donations to small and mid-sized charities from 2019. This marks the second consecutive quarter increase from last year. Since the start of the outbreak, new donors are up 11.7 percent.
According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project’s Growth in Giving Database, which partners with the AFP, the biggest growth has been in small-amount donations (those less than $150), which soared 17.1 percent, compared with 6.9 percent for gifts valued at $1,000 or more.
Turns out more people from every financial bracket have been setting aside some cash to give to struggling communities.
On GoFundMe this year, 70 percent of donations were made in under $50 amounts; only 40 percent were in 2019.
On the ninth annual Giving Tuesday (which this year fell on Dec. 1), 34.8 million people gave a total of $2.47 billion to different charities in the United States alone. That’s a 25 percent spike in funds and 29 percent in participants from last year. The best news: That level of charity isn’t expected to fade in the last quarter of the year. As new vaccines offer grounds to believe 2021 will leave COVID behind, it’s heartening to hope that spirit of generosity will continue well into the new year — and beyond.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--In Nashville, cops did their jobs — selflessly

Days later , authorities still aren ’ t sure what led a man to detonate a bomb in his RV parked in downtown Nashville early Christmas morning , killing himself , collapsing a building and blowing out windows and doors blocks away .
But one thing is clear : Cops acted swiftly and heroically , saving numerous lives .
It ’ s a reminder that the vast majority of law-enforcement officers don ’ t deserve the abuse to which they ’ ve been subjected this year .
Investigators say Anthony Quinn Warner , 63 , acted alone in the attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaged dozens of buildings .
The explosion , which occurred in front of an AT & T transmission facility , cut off cell and Internet service in parts of Tennessee , Kentucky and Alabama , disrupting 911 service and grounding flights .
Warner had just one item on his record , an arrest for marijuana possession in 1978 .
Officials seem stymied on a motive for the bizarre attack .
“ We may never find the exact reasoning behind the activity that took place , ” cautioned David Rausch , director of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ will ever be enough for those who have been affected by this event , ” said Douglas Korneski , the special agent in charge of the Memphis FBI field office .
Warner did provide a warning , though : The RV blared a recording informing those nearby that a bomb was about to explode before playing Petula Clark ’ s optimistic 1964 hit “ Downtown.
” Officers on the scene took that warning seriously .
They put themselves in danger to protect the public because , well .
.
.
that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Never mind the verbal — and physical — attacks on them by the cop-haters .
The spitting at them , and car-ramming , and Molotov cocktails .
They are dedicated professionals who do their jobs , selflessly .
Cops on the scene called for backup ; six blocked off traffic and went door-to-door , evacuating residents .
Officer Brenna Hosey recalled having “ scared the bejesus ” out of one woman who answered her door .
“ I told her that there was a threat in the area and we needed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OK , let me get my kids.
’ ” Hosey doesn ’ t have kids , “ but I have cousins and nieces and people that I love that are small .
So I ’ m thinking maybe one or two kids , ” she said .
“ She ended up having four kids.
” Officer James Wells lost hearing temporarily due to the blast , but he never lost his wits .
“ I actually told everybody when we came out to make sure we look at the high ground and parking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , fearing an ambush .
“ This is going to tie us together forever , for the rest of my life , ” Wells said , choking up at a news conference .
“ Christmas will never be the same.
” Thanks to Officers Hosey , Wells , James Luellen , Michael Sipos and Amanda Topping — none of whom has been with the department longer than four years — and Sgt .
Timothy Miller , this Christmas was a lot less deadlier than it might have been .
Very few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , as happened here , save lives .
They deserve our gratitude .

Days later, authorities still aren’t sure what led a man to detonate a bomb in his RV parked in downtown Nashville early Christmas morning, killing himself, collapsing a building and blowing out windows and doors blocks away. But one thing is clear: Cops acted swiftly and heroically, saving numerous lives. It’s a reminder that the vast majority of law-enforcement officers don’t deserve the abuse to which they’ve been subjected this year.
Investigators say Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, acted alone in the attack that injured at least three people and damaged dozens of buildings. The explosion, which occurred in front of an AT&T transmission facility, cut off cell and Internet service in parts of Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama, disrupting 911 service and grounding flights.
Warner had just one item on his record, an arrest for marijuana possession in 1978. Officials seem stymied on a motive for the bizarre attack.
“We may never find the exact reasoning behind the activity that took place,” cautioned David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
No answers “will ever be enough for those who have been affected by this event,” said Douglas Korneski, the special agent in charge of the Memphis FBI field office.
Warner did provide a warning, though: The RV blared a recording informing those nearby that a bomb was about to explode before playing Petula Clark’s optimistic 1964 hit “Downtown.”
Officers on the scene took that warning seriously. They put themselves in danger to protect the public because, well . . . that’s their job. And they care. Never mind the verbal — and physical — attacks on them by the cop-haters. The spitting at them, and car-ramming, and Molotov cocktails. They are dedicated professionals who do their jobs, selflessly.
Cops on the scene called for backup; six blocked off traffic and went door-to-door, evacuating residents. Officer Brenna Hosey recalled having “scared the bejesus” out of one woman who answered her door. “I told her that there was a threat in the area and we needed her to evacuate. She said, ‘OK, let me get my kids.’” Hosey doesn’t have kids, “but I have cousins and nieces and people that I love that are small. So I’m thinking maybe one or two kids,” she said. “She ended up having four kids.”
Officer James Wells lost hearing temporarily due to the blast, but he never lost his wits. “I actually told everybody when we came out to make sure we look at the high ground and parking garages, just in case,” he said, fearing an ambush.
“This is going to tie us together forever, for the rest of my life,” Wells said, choking up at a news conference. “Christmas will never be the same.”
Thanks to Officers Hosey, Wells, James Luellen, Michael Sipos and Amanda Topping — none of whom has been with the department longer than four years — and Sgt. Timothy Miller, this Christmas was a lot less deadlier than it might have been.
Very few cops take lives needlessly. So many more, as happened here, save lives. They deserve our gratitude.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Alec Baldwin once raved about Hilaria’s emotional health to Howard Stern

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 ) On Monday — amid Hilaria ’ s Spanish heritage and accent controversy — an undated clip of the “ 30 Rock ” star appearing on “ The Howard Stern Show ” surfaced on Twitter , in which Baldwin he boasts about his wife ’ s emotional equanimity .
Describing her as “ this preposterously unique person ” and “ the most healthy person emotionally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is nothing like that .
“ I ’ m in my room and something happens and my wife will come in and be like , ‘ Alec , what good does this do for you to be so upset ?
’ She ’ s so f—king reasonable .
It ’ s exhausting , ” he added , laughing .
Like other television appearances , Baldwin adopted a comical Spanish accent while relating the anecdote .
Hilaria has come under fire after social media users questioned the authenticity of her Spanish accent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was actually born in Boston with the name Hilary .

Alec Baldwin once proudly called wife Hilaria Baldwin “the most healthy person emotionally.”
On Monday — amid Hilaria’s Spanish heritage and accent controversy — an undated clip of the “30 Rock” star appearing on “The Howard Stern Show” surfaced on Twitter, in which Baldwin boasts about his wife’s emotional equanimity.
Describing her as “this preposterously unique person” and “the most healthy person emotionally,” the Long Island-born actor noted that he is nothing like that.
“I’m in my room and something happens and my wife will come in and be like, ‘Alec, what good does this do for you to be so upset?’ She’s so f—king reasonable. It’s exhausting,” he added, laughing.
Like other television appearances, Baldwin adopted a comical Spanish accent while relating the anecdote.
Hilaria has come under fire after social media users questioned the authenticity of her Spanish accent. The mom of five eventually admitted that she was actually born in Boston with the name Hillary.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--House votes to override Trump’s veto of defense bill

The House of Representatives on Monday voted to override President Trump ’ s veto of a $ 740 billion defense bill .
The 322-87 vote easily cleared the two-thirds threshold needed to make the bill law .
The Senate is expected to hold its override vote this week .
It would be the first override of a Trump veto .
Trump objected to provisions that would slow a troop drawdown in Afghanistan and mandate the renaming of 10 bases that honor Confederates .
He also demanded that it repeal legal protections for social media companies .
Trump vetoed the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing so to reduce the window for legislators to override him and to improve the chances of implementing his plan to cut troops in Afghanistan from 4,500 in November to 2,500 by Jan. 15 .
“ I oppose endless wars , as does the American public , ” Trump said in his veto message .
The bill passed this month over Trump ’ s objections by 84-13 in the Senate and 335-78 in the House .
Some Republicans , including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-Calif. ) , voted for the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ override .
A majority of both major parties voted to override Trump ’ s veto , with 109 Republicans , 212 Democrats and one independent breaking with the president .
Sixty-six Republicans , 20 Democrats and an independent opposed the override vote .
Some Democrats who originally voted against the bill supported the veto override .
Trump ’ s bid to force legislators to repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act received bipartisan pushback from congressmen who said it was unrelated to the military .
Republicans rallied to reform or repeal Section @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Facebook censored The Post ’ s reporting in October on President-elect Joe Biden ’ s apparent links to his son Hunter ’ s overseas business dealings .
Many Democrats , including Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) , also support revising or repealing Section 230 .

The House of Representatives on Monday voted to override President Trump’s veto of a $740 billion defense bill.
The 322-87 vote easily cleared the two-thirds threshold needed to make the bill law. The Senate is expected to hold its override vote this week. It would be the first override of a Trump veto.
Trump objected to provisions that would slow a troop drawdown in Afghanistan and mandate the renaming of 10 bases that honor Confederates. He also demanded that it repeal legal protections for social media companies.
Trump vetoed the bill last week. He took his time doing so to reduce the window for legislators to override him and to improve the chances of implementing his plan to cut troops in Afghanistan from 4,500 in November to 2,500 by Jan. 15.
“I oppose endless wars, as does the American public,” Trump said in his veto message.
The bill passed this month over Trump’s objections by 84-13 in the Senate and 335-78 in the House. Some Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), voted for the bill but said they would not support an override.
A majority of both major parties voted to override Trump’s veto, with 109 Republicans, 212 Democrats and one independent breaking with the president.
Sixty-six Republicans, 20 Democrats and an independent opposed the override vote. Some Democrats who originally voted against the bill supported the veto override.
Trump’s bid to force legislators to repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act received bipartisan pushback from congressmen who said it was unrelated to the military.
Republicans rallied to reform or repeal Section 230 immunity for third-party consent after Twitter and Facebook censored The Post’s reporting in October on President-elect Joe Biden’s apparent links to his son Hunter’s overseas business dealings. Many Democrats, including Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), also support revising or repealing Section 230.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Nets have better TV ratings than Knicks in stunning reversal

The star-laden Nets have the bigger payroll than the Knicks , bigger expectations and a bigger amount of stars .
And the Nets also — maybe for the first time in their history — have a bigger television audience through the season ’ s first three games .
YES Network , which broadcasts the Nets , boldly tweeted out information the Nets are beating the Knicks in viewership .
The Nets ’ first two games were on national TV ( TNT and ABC ) with their third game on YES .
Through three games , gauging the New York audience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ averaging 340,667 viewers compared to the Knicks ’ 146,667 viewers .
Each of the three Knicks ’ games were on MSG Network .
( They only have one game all season on a national network . )
That ’ s a surprising advantage considering it ’ s always been common knowledge the Knicks have a larger fan base than the Nets , who moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn eight years ago .
Meanwhile , The Post has learned the Knicks ’ Nielsen ratings on MSG Network and MSG Plus are down 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three games — even though Knicks fans can ’ t view the contests in person The average viewership for the games against Indiana , Philly and Milwaukee averaged 135,000 .
The first three games last season against San Antonio , the Nets and Boston averaged 165,000 .
YES revealed in a head-to-head Sunday night , the Nets-Charlotte game on its network outdrew the Knicks-Bucks contest on MSG Network , 150,000 viewers to 125,000 .
It ’ s unclear if these findings mean the Knicks are losing fans to the Brooklyn Dream Team .

The star-laden Nets have the bigger payroll than the Knicks, bigger expectations and a bigger amount of stars.
And the Nets also — maybe for the first time in their history — have a bigger television audience through the season’s first three games.
YES Network, which broadcasts the Nets, boldly tweeted out information the Nets are beating the Knicks in viewership.
The Nets’ first two games were on national TV (TNT and ABC) with their third game on YES. Through three games, gauging the New York audience, Kevin Durant’s Nets are averaging 340,667 viewers compared to the Knicks’ 146,667 viewers.
Each of the three Knicks’ games were on MSG Network. (They only have one game all season on a national network.)
That’s a surprising advantage considering it’s always been common knowledge the Knicks have a larger fan base than the Nets, who moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn eight years ago.
Kyrie Irving (l) and Kevin Durant Getty Images
Meanwhile, The Post has learned the Knicks’ Nielsen ratings on MSG Network and MSG Plus are down 12 percent from last season’s first three games — even though Knicks fans can’t view the contests in person
The average viewership for the games against Indiana, Philly and Milwaukee averaged 145,000. The first three games last season against San Antonio, the Nets and Boston averaged 165,000.
YES revealed in a head-to-head Sunday night, the Nets-Charlotte game on its network outdrew the Knicks-Bucks contest on MSG Network, 150,000 viewers to 125,000. It’s unclear if these findings mean the Knicks are losing fans to the Brooklyn Dream Team.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Jets’ lengthy Sam Darnold decision features big wild card

We live in a microwave society where everything wants things done yesterday .
But some things take time .
The Jets ’ decision at quarterback for 2021 is one of those .
Everyone wants to know whether Jets general manager Joe Douglas will stick with Sam Darnold or draft a quarterback at No .
2 or trade back and take a quarterback later or sign a veteran quarterback or maybe move Jamison Crowder to quarterback after Sunday ’ s touchdown throw .
But the answer to the great Jets quarterback debate of ’ 21 is going to take months to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are so many factors that are impossible to decipher right now .
Yes , Douglas surely has formed an opinion on Darnold after watching him up close for the past 18 months .
Darnold has plenty of tape after 37 career starts and Douglas has been the GM for 24 of those games .
Still , that does not mean that Darnold is any less confounding to Douglas than he is to fans .
Surely , Douglas wonders what Darnold might look like with elite wide receivers , a top-notch offensive line and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a projection that everyone who watches the Jets tries to make .
Is Darnold being dragged down by those around him or is he incapable of elevating them ?
And Douglas is not going to show his cards .
Why would he ?
If he wants to trade Darnold , he needs to keep his trade value high .
Then , the biggest wild card in this whole decision comes into play .
Who is the head coach going to be ?
Adam Gase will almost certainly be fired after Sunday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Douglas must set out to find the next head coach .
That coach is going to have major say over who he wants at quarterback .
Will it be a coach who evaluated Darnold in the 2018 draft and loved him , like many did ?
Or will be one who has faced Darnold , seen his deficiencies and wants to start over ?
Just remember this about NFL coaches .
They all think they can fix players .
So , the Jets could hire a coach who looks at Darnold and believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darnold playing with starting receivers this year at times such as Jaleel Scott , Lawrence Cager , Jeff Smith , Chris Hogan and Braxton Berrios .
The easiest path for Douglas , of course , would have been if the Jets ended up with the No .
1 pick and he could just hand in the draft card with Trevor Lawrence ’ s name on it .
Now , if he opts against keeping Darnold , he must figure out if Justin Fields , Zach Wilson or Trey Lance are worth taking No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then Douglas must decide whether he can get a bounty for the No .
2 pick or is better off staying there and taking a non-quarterback .
Typically , quarterbacks rise through the pre-draft process .
Remember , Kyler Murray was not expected to go No .
1 overall in 2019 until rumors started about Arizona taking him in late February/early March .
The Giants ’ selection of Daniel Jones at No .
6 was a surprise .
Justin Herbert ’ s stock rose last year to make him a top-10 pick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will gain some momentum over the next few months to where the Jets decide he is their guy or that they can get a trove of draft picks from someone else who needs a quarterback .
But none of this will happen anytime soon .
We don ’ t even know what the NFL Scouting Combine will look like this year or if schools will be able to have pro days .
Scouts have not been allowed on campus this fall .
This is going to be a very different draft process than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are going to be speculating , pontificating and evaluating this decision for the next four months .
You may want this to be a microwave decision , but it feels like this is one Douglas is going to have to throw in the slow cooker .

We live in a microwave society where everybody wants things done yesterday. But some things take time.
The Jets’ decision at quarterback for 2021 is one of those. Everyone wants to know whether Jets general manager Joe Douglas will stick with Sam Darnold or draft a quarterback at No. 2 or trade back and take a quarterback later or sign a veteran quarterback or maybe move Jamison Crowder to quarterback after Sunday’s touchdown throw.
But the answer to the great Jets quarterback debate of ’21 is going to take months to decide, so settle in. There are so many factors that are impossible to decipher right now. Yes, Douglas surely has formed an opinion on Darnold after watching him up close for the past 18 months. Darnold has plenty of tape after 37 career starts and Douglas has been the GM for 24 of those games.
Still, that does not mean that Darnold is any less confounding to Douglas than he is to fans. Surely, Douglas wonders what Darnold might look like with elite wide receivers, a top-notch offensive line and a better offensive scheme. It is a projection that everyone who watches the Jets tries to make. Is Darnold being dragged down by those around him or is he incapable of elevating them? And Douglas is not going to show his cards. Why would he? If he wants to trade Darnold, he needs to keep his trade value high.
Then, the biggest wild card in this whole decision comes into play. Who is the head coach going to be? Adam Gase will almost certainly be fired after Sunday’s finale in New England. Then, Douglas must set out to find the next head coach. That coach is going to have major say over who he wants at quarterback. Will it be a coach who evaluated Darnold in the 2018 draft and loved him, like many did? Or will be one who has faced Darnold, seen his deficiencies and wants to start over?
Sam Darnold Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Just remember this about NFL coaches. They all think they can fix players. So, the Jets could hire a coach who looks at Darnold and believes the struggles were about Gase or about Darnold playing with starting receivers this year at times such as Jaleel Scott, Lawrence Cager, Jeff Smith, Chris Hogan and Braxton Berrios.
The easiest path for Douglas, of course, would have been if the Jets ended up with the No. 1 pick and he could just hand in the draft card with Trevor Lawrence’s name on it. Now, if he opts against keeping Darnold, he must figure out if Justin Fields, Zach Wilson or Trey Lance are worth taking No. 2 overall. If not, then Douglas must decide whether he can get a bounty for the No. 2 pick or is better off staying there and taking a non-quarterback.
Typically, quarterbacks rise through the pre-draft process. Remember, Kyler Murray was not expected to go No. 1 overall in 2019 until rumors started about Arizona taking him in late February/early March. The Giants’ selection of Daniel Jones at No. 6 was a surprise. Justin Herbert’s stock rose last year to make him a top-10 pick. So, maybe one of these quarterbacks will gain some momentum over the next few months to where the Jets decide he is their guy or that they can get a trove of draft picks from someone else who needs a quarterback.
But none of this will happen anytime soon. We don’t even know what the NFL Scouting Combine will look like this year or if schools will be able to have pro days. Scouts have not been allowed on campus this fall. This is going to be a very different draft process than what NFL teams are used to.
We are going to be speculating, pontificating and evaluating this decision for the next four months. You may want this to be a microwave decision, but it feels like this is one Douglas is going to have to throw in the slow cooker.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Manhattan DA probing alleged assault on Keyon Harrold Jr.

Manhattan prosecutors said Monday they are probing claims that a woman falsely accused a 14-year-old black boy of stealing her cellphone , then attacked him , in a caught-on-camera confrontation that has gone viral .
“ Our office is thoroughly investigating this incident , ” said DA spokesman Danny Frost .
The development comes after teen Keyon Harrold Jr. ’ s parents called for authorities to bring charges against the unidentified woman over the disturbing Saturday encounter at the Arlo Hotel in Soho .
The teen ’ s father , prominent Jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold , posted footage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows the woman frantically telling the hotel manager that the boy took her phone before she lunges at him .
“ Take the case off , that ’ s mine .
Literally , get it back , ” she says to a hotel manager in the clip .
A few minutes later , the woman ’ s missing phone was returned by an Uber driver , according to the New York-based musician ’ s Instagram post .
The family ’ s lawyer , Ben Crump , said it was especially troubling that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jr. to show his phone to the stranger to prove he wasn ’ t a thief .
Earlier Monday , the lawyer demanded that Manhattan prosecutors bring assault and battery charges against the woman to “ send the message that hateful , racially motivated behavior is unacceptable.
” He also called for a civil-rights investigation into the hotel for the manager ’ s alleged biased treatment of the teen .

Manhattan prosecutors said Monday they are probing claims that a woman falsely accused a 14-year-old black boy of stealing her cellphone, then attacked him, in a caught-on-camera confrontation that has gone viral.
“Our office is thoroughly investigating this incident,” said DA spokesman Danny Frost.
The development comes after teen Keyon Harrold Jr.’s parents called for authorities to bring charges against the unidentified woman over the disturbing Saturday encounter at the Arlo Hotel in Soho.
The teen’s father, prominent Jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold, posted footage of the incident to his Instagram account, which shows the woman frantically telling the hotel manager that the boy took her phone before she lunges at him.
“Take the case off, that’s mine. Literally, get it back,” she says to a hotel manager in the clip.
A few minutes later, the woman’s missing phone was returned by an Uber driver, according to the New York-based musician’s Instagram post.
The family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, said it was especially troubling that the hotel manager allegedly tried to force Harrod Jr. to show his phone to the stranger to prove he wasn’t a thief.
Earlier Monday, the lawyer demanded that Manhattan prosecutors bring assault and battery charges against the woman to “send the message that hateful, racially motivated behavior is unacceptable.”
He also called for a civil-rights investigation into the hotel for the manager’s alleged biased treatment of the teen.


newyorkpost--2020-12-28--Alabama dominating All-American nods shows how big gap really is

The winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history spent his first ...

Come Friday, No. 1 Alabama gets another chance to prove it is the best team in the country when it faces Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl, being played in Arlington, Texas. But on Monday, the talent gap between the Crimson Tide and the competition was again made clear, with six Alabama players named Associated Press First Team All-Americans.
No other program earned more than two selections.
Heisman Trophy finalists Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith were joined by running back Najee Harris, tackle Alex Leatherwood, cornerback Patrick Surtain II and center Landon Dickerson, who is out following knee surgery. The inclusion of Jones, Smith and Harris makes Alabama the first team to have a quarterback, running back and wide receiver all receive first-team honors since the AP’s current format was created in 1980.
No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Notre Dame each earned two selections. Buckeyes lineman Wyatt Davis and cornerback Shaun Wade were honored, as well as Fighting Irish lineman Aaron Banks and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
The highest-paid assistant in college football met expectations.
Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was named the Broyles Award winner, given to the top assistant coach in the country. In his second full season leading the offense, the Crimson Tide averaged 49.7 points per game. The 46-year-old also filled in as interim head coach in a 42-13 Iron Bowl win over Auburn, while Nick Saban quarantined with a COVID-19 infection.
Sarkisian, the former USC and Washington head coach, earns $2.5 million per season as Saban’s top lieutenant. He recently turned down an interview opportunity for Auburn’s open head-coaching position.
“Sark’s done an outstanding job in terms of system and scheme, how he teaches the players,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said Monday. “He’s contributed as much as anybody that we’ve ever had here in terms of his knowledge and experience.”
Other finalists for the award included BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, Cincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, Indiana defensive coordinator Kane Wommack and Northwestern defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz.
Saban hasn’t shut the door on Jaylen Waddle returning from an ankle injury this season, but the window is quickly closing on the electric wide receiver.
Waddle, who hasn’t played since fracturing his ankle against Tennessee on Oct. 24, still hasn’t returned to practice.
“He’s coming along,” Saban said. “He’s doing dry-land running. Still working to try to get back. He is making progress. We’re happy to see him be able at least go out there and do some running and do some things, but he’s not back in practice yet.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Emma Roberts gives birth to baby boy

Emma Roberts gives birth to baby boy

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 ) The 29-year-old actress and boyfriend Garrett Hedlund , 36 , welcomed their first child together , a baby boy named Rhodes on Sunday , TMZ reported .
Rumors that the “ Scream Queen ” star was pregnant started swirling in June , and she confirmed a month later that she was indeed expecting .
“ Me and my two favorite guys , ” she captioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her baby bump while snuggled up to Hedlund .
She and Hedlund have been linked as a couple since March 2019 when they were spotted holding hands in Los Angeles , according to Us Weekly .
Roberts celebrated her impending motherhood with a “ magical garden ” -themed baby shower in October .
She also posed with her baby bump on display for the cover of Cosmopolitan ’ s December 2020 issue and opened up about her pregnancy .
She discussed her struggle with endometriosis , which affected her fertility , but said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment that I stopped thinking about it , we got pregnant … This pregnancy made me realize that the only plan you can have is that there is no plan.
” Roberts previously dated actor Evan Peters for years until they ended things for good in March 2019 .
“ Tron ” star Hedlund , meanwhile , dated Kirsten Dunst for four years , but they broke up in 2016 .

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Emma Roberts is a mom.
The 29-year-old actress and boyfriend Garrett Hedlund, 36, welcomed their first child together, a baby boy named Rhodes on Sunday, TMZ reported.
Rumors that the “Scream Queen” star was pregnant started swirling in June, and she confirmed a month later that she was indeed expecting.
“Me and my two favorite guys,” she captioned an Instagram pregnancy announcement featuring herself cradling her baby bump while snuggled up to Hedlund.
She and Hedlund have been linked as a couple since March 2019 when they were spotted holding hands in Los Angeles, according to Us Weekly.
Roberts celebrated her impending motherhood with a “magical garden”-themed baby shower in October.
She also posed with her baby bump on display for the cover of Cosmopolitan’s December 2020 issue and opened up about her pregnancy.
She discussed her struggle with endometriosis, which affected her fertility, but said, “It sounds cheesy, but the moment that I stopped thinking about it, we got pregnant … This pregnancy made me realize that the only plan you can have is that there is no plan.”
Roberts previously dated actor Evan Peters for years until they ended things for good in March 2019.
“Tron” star Hedlund, meanwhile, dated Kirsten Dunst for four years, but they broke up in 2016.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Tyson Foods manager fired for COVID betting pool calls it ‘something fun’

The manager of a Tyson Foods pork processing plant in ...

A manager at Tyson Foods who was fired for participating in an office betting pool on how many co-workers would contract COVID-19 said it was meant as a “morale boost” and was done without “malicious intent.”
Don Merschbrock, one of seven managers terminated for the sick stunt at the company’s pork processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, broke his silence in an interview with the Associated Press, claiming supervisors came up with the idea last spring, just after mass testing of 2,800 workers at the facility.
The Tyson employee of 10 years and former night manager said the entry fee for the winner-take-all pool was $50, which went to the person who picked the correct percentage of workers who came down with the virus.
Those who took part didn’t think the pool violated company policy, Merschbrock said.
“It was a group of exhausted supervisors that had worked so hard and so smart to solve many unsolvable problems,” Merschbrock said. “It was simply something fun, kind of a morale boost for having put forth an incredible effort. There was never any malicious intent. It was never meant to disparage anyone.”
Merschbrock said managers at the facility were faced with an “impossible task” of keeping up production at its largest pork plant while incorporating virus precautions, leading to 12-hour shifts up to seven days a week. The supervisors are “not the evil people” that company officials have characterized, he said.
“We really want to clear our names,” Merschbrock said. “We actually worked very hard and took care of our team members well.”
Tyson fired the supervisors weeks after a federal lawsuit in Iowa alleged that Tom Hart, the manager at the Waterloo plant, organized the cash buy-in pool in late March and April as he and other top employees avoided the plant floor out of fears of contracting the virus.
More than two dozen workers at the plant were hospitalized with coronavirus on April 12, according to the lawsuit. Company officials said in May that more than 1,000 workers had tested positive — and at least six had died.
Attorneys for the estates of four dead Tyson employees claim in wrongful-death lawsuits that the pool shows the company is not concerned with safety.
An investigation led by former US Attorney General Eric Holder found sufficient evidence to lead to the firings, saying those involved violated the company’s values.
Tyson has not released Holder’s findings and the managers who were fired insist they were terminated without an explanation, the Associated Press reported.
A spokesman for Tyson declined to comment on Merschbrock’s claims, according to the report.
Mel Orchard, who represents families of the dead employees, said keeping workers safe at the plant was not an impossible task.
“Listening to the stories of those who lost a father, brother or wife, I have a hard time having sympathy for the managers who worked extra hours and were tired,” Orchard said. “But I do understand why and how this could have happened.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--How Regé-Jean Page Perfectly Embodies the Simon Bassett of the ‘Bridgerton’ Books

Netflix ’ s Bridgerton is a true gift to fans of Julia Quinn ’ s Bridgerton series of books .
The first season lovingly adapts the series ’ s first installment , The Duke and I , while seeding future novels in with Easter eggs and narrative winks .
But maybe the best treat for Bridgerton book fans is the show ’ s leading man .
Readers know Simon Bassett , the Duke of Hastings , as a devastatingly handsome rake whose cold exterior is actually armor protecting a sensitive soul and embarrassing speech impediment .
And that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making the Zimbabwe-born actor the perfect Simon Bassett for Bridgerton .
Produced by Shonda Rhimes ’ s Shondaland , Bridgerton follows young Daphne Bridgerton ( Phoebe Dynevor ) as she attempts to navigate the scandalous social scene of 1813 London .
Although she is immediately declared the season ’ s “ incomprable ” by both the Queen ( Golda Rosheuval ) and the mysterious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown ( voiced by Julie Andrews ) , Daphne ’ s popularity soon plummets .
After her brother scares off legions of suitors , she is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The lecherous and awkward Nigel Berbrooke ( Jamie Beamish ) .
Daphne needs a miracle and it comes when she literally bumps into the Duke of Hastings .
The dashing Simon Bassett has ventured into London to settle his recently-deceased father ’ s affairs and take his place as the new Duke of Hastings .
He is aggressively intent on not falling in love , getting married , or siring children .
While his godmother Lady Danbury ( Adjoa Andoh ) and Lady Bridgerton ( Ruth Gemmell ) believe him to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees their meddling matchmaking scheme as an ironic opportunity .
He proposes to Daphne that they pretend to form an attachment .
This will , according to him , make her look attractive and him unavailable .
Naturally the plan works flawlessly , except for the part where Simon and Daphne develop real feelings for one another .
( Tee hee ! )
Now much has been made of the fact that Shondaland has diversified the cast of Quinn ’ s books in a big way .
Bridgerton depicts Queen Charlotte as bi-racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and imagines an alternate timeline where Charlotte inspired King George IV to raise Black members of society to titled positions such as “ the Duke of Hastings.
” What this means is that Netflix ’ s Simon Bassett isn ’ t a lanky rake with piercing blue eyes and floppy brown hair .
He is the tall , dark , brown-eyed , and brown-skinned Regé-Jean Page .
And holy shit it ’ s fantastic .
To be clear , Regé-Jean Page is fantastic as the Duke of Hastings .
He possesses all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rascally wit , and deep-rooted turmoil .
As the show explains , Simon ’ s father was obsessed with securing his newly appointed title to the point that he callously ignored his own wife ’ s death on the childbirth bed to toast a male heir .
When Simon developed a stutter , his father rejected him outright .
Only Lady Danbury came to the young boy ’ s aid and encouraged him to make himself excellent in all possible ways .
When Page struts through the ballrooms of Bridgerton ‘ s ton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of confidence that Simon wears as a shield but a tentative air of discomfort .
Every social interaction is an opportunity for Simon ’ s stutter to re-emerge , rendering him shattered .
He looks on at the Bridgerton family ’ s boisterous interactions with a combination of awe and jealousy .
Daphne ’ s kin are the loving , loud , inclusive family he never had .
Page ’ s Simon is a man tortured by dual forces in his heart : he wants love , but he is too bitter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Regé-Jean Page is seductive , sexy , and most of all broken .
That makes him the ideal Duke of Hastings .
Most of Julia Quinn ’ s romantic heroes are incorrigible rakes on the outside to cover up the emotional bruises on the inside .
Regé-Jean Page ’ s performance in Bridgerton is the perfect embodiment of this .
Because of that — like Daphne Bridgerton — we can ’ t help but fall head over heels for Simon Bassett , aka the Duke of Hastings .

Netflix’s Bridgerton is a true gift to fans of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series of books. The first season lovingly adapts the series’s first installment, The Duke and I, while seeding future novels in with Easter eggs and narrative winks. But maybe the best treat for Bridgerton book fans is the show’s leading man. Readers know Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, as a devastatingly handsome rake whose cold exterior is actually armor protecting a sensitive soul and embarrassing speech impediment. And that’s exactly how Regé-Jean Page plays Hastings, making the Zimbabwe-born actor the perfect Simon Bassett for Bridgerton.
Spoilers for Netflix’s Bridgerton ahead.
Produced by Shonda Rhimes’s Shondaland, Bridgerton follows young Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) as she attempts to navigate the scandalous social scene of 1813 London. Although she is immediately declared the season’s “incomprable” by both the Queen (Golda Rosheuval) and the mysterious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews), Daphne’s popularity soon plummets. After her brother scares off legions of suitors, she is considered “desperate.” Her one prospect? The lecherous and awkward Nigel Berbrooke (Jamie Beamish). Daphne needs a miracle and it comes when she literally bumps into the Duke of Hastings.
The dashing Simon Bassett has ventured into London to settle his recently-deceased father’s affairs and take his place as the new Duke of Hastings. He is aggressively intent on not falling in love, getting married, or siring children. While his godmother Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) and Lady Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) believe him to be Daphne’s ideal match, Simon sees their meddling matchmaking scheme as an ironic opportunity. He proposes to Daphne that they pretend to form an attachment. This will, according to him, make her look attractive and him unavailable.
Naturally the plan works flawlessly, except for the part where Simon and Daphne develop real feelings for one another. (Tee hee!)
Now much has been made of the fact that Shondaland has diversified the cast of Quinn’s books in a big way. Bridgerton depicts Queen Charlotte as bi-racial (which she may have been!) and imagines an alternate timeline where Charlotte inspired King George IV to raise Black members of society to titled positions such as “the Duke of Hastings.” What this means is that Netflix’s Simon Bassett isn’t a lanky rake with piercing blue eyes and floppy brown hair. He is the tall, dark, brown-eyed, and brown-skinned Regé-Jean Page. And holy shit it’s fantastic.
To be clear, Regé-Jean Page is fantastic as the Duke of Hastings. He possesses all of Simon’s inscrutable charm, rascally wit, and deep-rooted turmoil. As the show explains, Simon’s father was obsessed with securing his newly appointed title to the point that he callously ignored his own wife’s death on the childbirth bed to toast a male heir. When Simon developed a stutter, his father rejected him outright. Only Lady Danbury came to the young boy’s aid and encouraged him to make himself excellent in all possible ways.
When Page struts through the ballrooms of Bridgerton‘s ton, he not only embodies the aura of confidence that Simon wears as a shield but a tentative air of discomfort. Every social interaction is an opportunity for Simon’s stutter to re-emerge, rendering him shattered. He looks on at the Bridgerton family’s boisterous interactions with a combination of awe and jealousy. Daphne’s kin are the loving, loud, inclusive family he never had. Page’s Simon is a man tortured by dual forces in his heart: he wants love, but he is too bitter to welcome it in.
As Simon Bassett, Regé-Jean Page is seductive, sexy, and most of all broken. That makes him the ideal Duke of Hastings. Most of Julia Quinn’s romantic heroes are incorrigible rakes on the outside to cover up the emotional bruises on the inside. Regé-Jean Page’s performance in Bridgerton is the perfect embodiment of this. Because of that — like Daphne Bridgerton — we can’t help but fall head over heels for Simon Bassett, aka the Duke of Hastings.
Watch Bridgerton on Netflix


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Alec Baldwin tells Hilaria critic on Instagram to ‘go f–k yourself’

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) The “ 30 Rock ” star , 62 , continued to defend wife Hilaria ( neé Hillary ) Baldwin on Instagram Monday for faking her Spanish accent and heritage , eventually opting for a cryptic Mark Twain quote to summarize his feelings .
“ A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes , ” the quote read .
Alec ’ s followers didn ’ t agree with the sentiment , as his former-yoga-instructor wife seemingly had been putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was born and raised in Boston by parents who were also born and raised in Boston .
“ Like your wife being Spanish when she lived in Massachusetts her entire life , ” one user wrote .
“ I take it her accent is fake as well ?
FRAUDS !
” One follower attempted to defend Hilaria and her love of Spain , claiming it was simply a matter of reinvention .
“ She wanted to reinvent herself – so what ?
Isnt America all about that ?
Just please stop insulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Non ( sic ) of her parents is Spanish .
She is not Spanish , ” the commenter wrote .
“ She admires and loves Spain so much that she reinveted ( sic ) herself as a Spanish woman while many were hiding fact that they are Latino .
So there are many ways to defend this – saying that facts are not facts is not one.
” Alec didn ’ t seem to buy into that logic , and set the record straight , writing , “ She was born in Boston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got it ?
” Her agency bio finally got it , too — it scrubbed the “ born in Mallorca ” fact from its website Monday .

Alec Baldwin snapped.
The “30 Rock” star, 62, continued to defend wife Hilaria (neé Hillary) Baldwin on Instagram Monday for faking her Spanish accent and heritage, eventually opting for a cryptic Mark Twain quote to summarize his feelings.
“A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes,” the quote read.
Alec’s followers didn’t agree with the sentiment, as his former-yoga-instructor wife seemingly had been putting on a Spanish facade when in reality she was born and raised in Boston by parents who were also born and raised in Boston.
“Like your wife being Spanish when she lived in Massachusetts her entire life,” one user wrote. “I take it her accent is fake as well? FRAUDS!”
After reading this attack, Alec replied, “Go f–k yourself.”
One follower attempted to defend Hilaria and her love of Spain, claiming it was simply a matter of reinvention.
Alec Baldwin GC Images
“She wanted to reinvent herself – so what ? Isnt America all about that ? Just please stop insulting people who can see clear facts. Non [sic] of her parents is Spanish. She is not Spanish,” the commenter wrote. “She admires and loves Spain so much that she reinveted [sic] herself as a Spanish woman while many were hiding fact that they are Latino. So there are many ways to defend this – saying that facts are not facts is not one.”
Alec didn’t seem to buy into that logic, and set the record straight, writing, “She was born in Boston but grew up in Spain. You got it?”
Her agency bio finally got it, too — it scrubbed the “born in Mallorca” fact from its website Monday.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Tesla will reportedly soon add support for Apple, Amazon Music

Tesla , whose high-tech vehicle software already supports Spotify integration , is reportedly working to add both Apple Music and @ @ @ @ @ .
Unlike other cars , which mirror the contents of a linked smartphone , the @ @ @ @ @ to run the streaming services natively on its cars ’ onboard computers , Tesla blog @ @ @ @ @ with Electrek also indicate that Tesla is working on Tidal integration .
The names of @ @ @ @ @ in the user interface settings .
Teslas will also soon add support for Amazon-owned audiobook @ @ @ @ @ the report .
Musk has been pushing for Teslas to become entertainment machines , and @ @ @ @ @ a desire for users to be able to play video games on the massive touch @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Entertainment will be critical when cars drive themselves , ” Musk tweeted on @ @ @ @ @ yet clear when the new integrations will be officially available .

Tesla, whose high-tech vehicle software already supports Spotify integration, is reportedly working to add both Apple Music and Amazon Music to its roster.
Unlike other cars, which mirror the contents of a linked smartphone, the Elon Musk-led electric automaker wants to run the streaming services natively on its cars’ onboard computers, Tesla blog Electrek writes.
Images shared with Electrek also indicate that Tesla is working on Tidal integration. The names of the new services were spotted in the user interface settings.
Teslas will also soon add support for Amazon-owned audiobook company Audible, according to the report.
Musk has been pushing for Teslas to become entertainment machines, and has in the past discussed a desire for users to be able to play video games on the massive touch screen included with every car.
“Entertainment will be critical when cars drive themselves,” Musk tweeted on Monday.
It is not yet clear when the new integrations will be officially available.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--AOC rails against Dem, GOP lawmakers who oppose $2,000 checks

President Trump on Tuesday night called for Congress to take ...

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is calling out lawmakers from both parties who have spoken out against tweaking the COVID stimulus bill to raise the value of direct payments to eligible Americans from $600 to $2,000.
In a series of tweets posted Monday, Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) bemoaned the objections of Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) and Kevin Brady (R-Texas) to increasing how much individuals would receive from the federal government.
The first post was a retweet quoting Schrader as saying, “People who are making six figure incomes and who have not been impact by Covid-19 do not need checks.”
“[First] of all, aid starts phasing out at $75k,” the New York Democrat began. Second, she argued, “it’s already tied to outdated income [information].”
The congresswoman continued by pointing out that people who made over $100,000 annually “also had income disrupted.”
“Is this really a good reason to block aid for millions,” she went on to ask her fellow Democrat, noting that “If you’re going to err, err on the side of helping people.”
Reached for comment by The Post, a spokesperson for Schrader slammed the effort to increase the check value as a political stunt, “This is an ineffective and poorly targeted approach to aiding Americans in distress. It is clearly a last-minute political maneuver by President Trump and extremists on both sides of the political spectrum who have been largely absent during months of hard negotiations.”
Ocasio-Cortez then turned her ire toward Brady, who had remarked on the House floor Monday, “Will this stimulate our local economies? Not a lot. What we know is that much of this extra $1,600 will go to pay down credit card debt, or savings, or even make new purchases online at Walmart, Best Buy, or Amazon.”
“‘I don’t support $2k survival checks because it might help people get out of debt that our gov’t inaction helped put or keep them in in the first place,'” AOC wrote, jokingly signing off as a “GOP Congressman.”
The left-wing pol then took issue with Republicans.
“Notice how Republican Congressmen who like to claim they are the party of ‘personal responsibility’ refuse to take any responsibility themselves for blocking retroactive unemployment benefits, voting against $2k survival checks, stoking doubt about the pandemic to begin with, etc,” the 31-year-old lawmaker wrote.
As part of the $908 billion COVID relief bill signed by President Trump on Sunday, eligible Americans are set to receive another round of stimulus checks valued at $600 per person.
The legislation, which was tied to a $1.4 trillion government funding bill, passed the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities, but Trump argued that the package needed work.
The commander-in-chief’s biggest complaint with the deal was the size of direct payments, and he called on Congress last week to amend the bill and raise each check to $2,000, as well as eliminate billions of dollars in foreign aid.
An amendment increasing the checks to $2,000 passed the Democrat-led House Monday, but the idea is unlikely to go anywhere in the GOP-held Senate.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Ilya Sorokin’s Calder Trophy odds offer bettors value

Heading into the 2020-21 NHL season , it should be no surprise Igor Shesterkin and Alexis Lafreniere are at the top of the odds board to win the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year .
Shesterkin , the 5/2 favorite at BetMGM , has a solid résumé dating back to his time in Russia and is primed to take over the Rangers ’ crease after getting his feet wet by going 10-2 in a dozen games of NHL action last season .
Lafreniere , the 3/1 second choice , was the Rangers first-overall pick in 2020 and looks like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team should be optimistic both players will get consideration for the award at the end of the year ( barring injury ) , as they both deserve to be favorites .
From a betting perspective , however , Lafreniere or Shesterkin are not good picks to take home the hardware .
There are so many things that could derail a season and it ’ s extremely tough to estimate the true chances a particular player will win an award in the best of times , let alone during a pandemic .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but you have to resist the urge to back favorites and commit to only bet on long shots that are being overlooked .
Several shops , including BetMGM and DraftKings in New Jersey , are offering Ilya Sorokin at 27/1 to win the award and have made a mistake doing so .
Sorokin is projected to assert himself as the New York Islanders ’ starting goaltender in 2021 and beyond , and his pedigree is very similar to that of Shesterkin .
The only difference is that the latter has 12 games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a known commodity .
If Shesterkin is a favorite then it ’ s only logical that oddsmakers should at least give Sorokin an outside chance .
As far as Lafreniere goes , only five first-overall picks have won the Calder Trophy since 2000 .
It ’ s been awarded to a goaltender three times in that same span .
Although Shesterkin projects to get more starts , Sorokin very well could end up starting more games than Semyon Varlamov .
The KHL season is 62 games and Sorokin averaged nearly 40 games per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very similar workload to the one he could see in this upcoming 56-game NHL season , so bettors should be confident he will be up to the task .
If you do have great things projected for Shesterkin ( and the Rangers ) in 2021 , I would recommend betting him to win the Vezina Trophy at 16/1 instead .
It all gets underway Jan. 13 .
At 25/1 at BetMGM , the Islanders currently have slightly better odds of winning the 2020-2021 Stanley Cup than the Rangers do at 30/1 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands full in the newly formed East division .
The Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers are tied for the fourth-best odds at 14/1 while the Washington Capitals ( 20/1 ) and Pittsburgh Penguins ( 22/1 ) are also in the top 10 .
By my estimation , both the Rangers and the Islanders have less than a 50 percent chance of making the playoffs , but it ’ s not out of reach for either team .
Andy MacNeil writes about hockey for VSIN.com , The Sports Betting Network .

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Heading into the 2020-21 NHL season, it should be no surprise Igor Shesterkin and Alexis Lafreniere are at the top of the odds board to win the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year.
Shesterkin, the 5/2 favorite at BetMGM, has a solid résumé dating back to his time in Russia and is primed to take over the Rangers’ crease after getting his feet wet by going 10-2 in a dozen games of NHL action last season. Lafreniere, the 3/1 second choice, was the Rangers first-overall pick in 2020 and looks like the real deal. Fans of the team should be optimistic both players will get consideration for the award at the end of the year (barring injury), as they both deserve to be favorites.
From a betting perspective, however, Lafreniere or Shesterkin are not good picks to take home the hardware. There are so many things that could derail a season and it’s extremely tough to estimate the true chances a particular player will win an award in the best of times, let alone during a pandemic. It is possible to find value in these markets, but you have to resist the urge to back favorites and commit to only bet on long shots that are being overlooked.
Several shops, including BetMGM and DraftKings in New Jersey, are offering Ilya Sorokin at 27/1 to win the award and have made a mistake doing so. Sorokin is projected to assert himself as the New York Islanders’ starting goaltender in 2021 and beyond, and his pedigree is very similar to that of Shesterkin. The only difference is that the latter has 12 games of NHL experience and is somewhat of a known commodity.
If Shesterkin is a favorite then it’s only logical that oddsmakers should at least give Sorokin an outside chance. As far as Lafreniere goes, only five first-overall picks have won the Calder Trophy since 2000. It’s been awarded to a goaltender three times in that same span.
Although Shesterkin projects to get more starts, Sorokin very well could end up starting more games than Semyon Varlamov. The KHL season is 62 games and Sorokin averaged nearly 40 games per season since 2017-18. It’s a very similar workload to the one he could see in this upcoming 56-game NHL season, so bettors should be confident he will be up to the task. If you do have great things projected for Shesterkin (and the Rangers) in 2021, I would recommend betting him to win the Vezina Trophy at 16/1 instead.
It all gets underway Jan. 13. At 25/1 at BetMGM, the Islanders currently have slightly better odds of winning the 2020-2021 Stanley Cup than the Rangers do at 30/1. Both teams are going to have their hands full in the newly formed East division. The Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers are tied for the fourth-best odds at 14/1 while the Washington Capitals (20/1) and Pittsburgh Penguins (22/1) are also in the top 10. By my estimation, both the Rangers and the Islanders have less than a 50 percent chance of making the playoffs, but it’s not out of reach for either team.
Andy MacNeil writes about hockey for VSIN.com, The Sports Betting Network.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Boeing 737 MAX set to resume flights for American Airlines after crashes

Boeing 737 MAX model planes are set to resume commercial flights for American Airlines Tuesday .
The MAX has been @ @ @ @ @ nearly two years since March 2018 after two deadly crashes in five months killed 346 @ @ @ @ @ only approved to take to the skies last month by the Federal Aviation Administration after @ @ @ @ @ and new safeguards on the flight control system linked to both fatal crashes .
The @ @ @ @ @ the MAX travel from Miami to LaGuardia .
“ We would have never brought this @ @ @ @ @ flight attendants didn ’ t feel comfortable , ” American Airlines COO David Seymour said @ @ @ @ @ this month .
The MAX has already completed around 250 flights for Gol Linhas Aereas @ @ @ @ @ month .
American Airlines currently has 31 737 MAX aircraft after taking delivery of seven @ @ @ @ @ lifted its safety ban , including one on Monday and plans to gradually reintroduce the @ @ @ @ @ Shares of Boeing were up 1.2 percent in pre-market trading Tuesday .

The Boeing 737 MAX plane involved in back-to-back crashes that killed 346 people resumed its first commercial flight in the US on Tuesday.
The closely watched American Airlines flight — which shuttled passengers between Miami to LaGuardia — follows a nearly two-year grounding of the aircraft maker’s most popular plane, which suffered two deadly crashes in a brutal five-month span starting in 2018.
American Airlines flight 718 landed at New York’s LaGuardia Airport in Queens around 1:08 p.m after departing Miami around 10:40 a.m.
The plane was cleared to take the skies by the Federal Aviation Administration in November, promoting American and Boeing to seek to reassure passengers that it’s safe to fly.
“We’re flying on a Boeing 737 Max,” Capt. Sean Roskey announced over the plane’s PA system, to some applause from passengers, according to CNBC, which had a reporter in the flight. “We have the utmost confidence in this aircraft. As a matter of fact, my wife is on board.”
It’s unclear whether the non-American Airline passenger who purchased tickets for Tuesday’s American Airlines shuttle between NYC and Miami knew they would be boarding a Boeing 737 Max.
A recent Reuters/IPSOS poll shows that while the memory of the crashes has faded over the years, more than half of passengers are still wary of taking the jet when reminded of them.
“If a customer doesn’t want to fly on a 737 MAX aircraft, they won’t have to,” American Airlines vowed on a web page dedicated to the questions about the plane’s safety. The airline promised to rebook skittish customers on the next available flight “free of charge,” or “cancel their trip” in exchange for “travel credits redeemable with American Airlines.”
The first 737 Max crash involved a Lion Air plane in Indonesia in October 2018, killing 189 people. It was followed five months later by an Ethiopian Airlines crashed that resulted in the death of all 157 people on board.
Software glitches have been blamed for the crashes and the jet was only approved to fly again last month after Boeing agreed to software upgrades and new safeguards on the flight control system linked to the fatal crashes.
Family members of victims of the aircraft’s previous crashes continue to blast the FAA’s decision, however, and called the FAA’s certification process into question, including in a letter to lawmakers this month.
“The more that is uncovered about the development of the Boeing 737 MAX, the more distrust unfolds from the families and the flying public,” Robert A. Clifford, a lawyer for families of 72 victims of the MAX crashes, said in a statement.
Regulators in Brazil have also OK’d the plane to fly and officials in Canada are expected to follow. Use of the 737 Max is also expected to expand in the US in 2021 as Southwest and United have both announced plans to add the plane to their flight schedules.
American Airlines currently has 31 737 MAX aircraft after taking delivery of seven more jets since the FAA lifted its safety ban, including one on Monday, and plans to gradually reintroduce the plane to its fleet.
The airline said at a briefing Tuesday morning that 1,400 pilots have received new training for the MAX, and that all of its pilots rated to fly the aircraft will be trained by March 2021.
Shares of Boeing ended the day up 0.07 percent to $216.25 a share.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Death of 4-month-old baby in Brooklyn ruled a homicide

A 4-month-old baby girl has died after suffering head trauma inside her Brooklyn apartment — and her death has now @ @ @ @ @ police said Tuesday .
Cops responding to a 911 call found Madeline Makhnovsky with the @ @ @ @ @ Street home in Gravesend around 4 a.m. on Dec. 12 .
The infant was taken @ @ @ @ @ and fought for her life for four days before dying .
No arrests have been @ @

A 4-month-old baby girl has died after suffering head trauma inside her Brooklyn apartment — and her death has been ruled a homicide, police said Tuesday.
Cops responding to a 911 call found Madeline Makhnovsky with the injury inside her West 3rd Street home in Gravesend around 4 a.m. Dec. 12.
The infant was taken to Tisch Hospital in Manhattan and fought for her life for four days before dying.
No arrests have been made.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Nashville RV bomber Anthony Quinn Warner was a cop-hating ‘hippie’: ex-colleague

Almost 500,000 residents in Wuhan , where the coronavirus pandemic originated , ...

Nashville RV bomber Anthony Quinn Warner was a weed-loving flower child with a “‘Magnum, P.I.’ mustache” — who hated cops, a former co-worker has claimed.
“He was kind of a hippie. Had long hair,” Tom Lundborg told the Daily Beast of his years-long daily dealings with the Christmas Day suicide bomber starting in the 1970s.
Lundborg — who was a teenager when he first met the then-20-something Warner — said he “kind of looked up to him” as they worked in Antioch, a suburb of Nashville where Warner stayed until his death.
“He was a smart, cocky kind of guy. I rode around with him all day every day — during the summers, at least for a couple of years,” he said of his partner working for Lundborg’s dad’s company, A.C.E. Alarms.
“He was a little guy, the silent type, but nice-looking to girls,” Lundborg said, saying Warner loved smoking weed.
“My dad would go to dive bars with him. He was popular with the females in there, you could just tell. He didn’t flirt a lot, but you could tell they liked him.”
Warner told him he had been in the Navy, although there is no history of him ever having served in the US armed forces, the Daily Beast noted.
Warner hated police, and would lecture his young colleague whenever they saw any officers, he said.
He told the Daily Beast that Warner would tell him, “I hate cops. They’re all corrupt. Never trust a cop.”
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement A photo from the Metro Nashville Police Department taken by the FBI’s Memphis field office shows the FBI’s Evidence Response Team and the ATF’s National Response Team processing the blast scene on 2nd Avenue in Nashville. AFP via Getty Images Investigators continue to look through the site of an explosion in Nashville. AP Advertisement Nashville blast suspect Anthony Quinn Warner on surveillance footage in an undated picture FBI MEMPHIS via REUTERS Advertisement
Lundborg said Warner “betrayed” Lundborg’s parents and started his own alarm company, taking some A.C.E. clients with him, but it failed because “he didn’t have the personality” to deal with customers.
He last saw him in 2007, he told the outlet, detailing nothing that would suggest the horrors the 63-year-old would go on to commit with his explosive-laden RV on Christmas morning.
Authorities have also said Warner was never on their radar, and his only arrest was in 1978 for possession of marijuana.
This year, he appeared to be changing his life in ways that suggest he was long planning his suicide blast.
He gave away his car, telling the recipient that he had cancer, told a client he was retiring, and even gave away his home.
Less than a week before Christmas, he also smiled as he told a neighbor that “Nashville and the world is never going to forget me.”
With Post wires