newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Mr. Christmas Unpacks Why Netflix’s ‘Holiday Home Makeover’ Is More Than Just a Decorating Show

If there ’ s one thing we all need at the end of 2020 , it ’ s pure holiday cheer .
Thankfully Netflix has Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas , a new reality show that is guaranteed to make you feel very nice after this very naughty year .
There ’ s no trick here , either .
This gift is exactly what the wrapping paper leads you to believe : it ’ s a home makeover show all about decking the halls for the holidays .
And the man orchestrating the festivities is interior designer Benjamin Bradley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like with the very best gifts , there ’ s actually a lot of sentiment attached to this special series .
Holiday Home Makeover gives you what you want ( lots of lights and extravagant trees ! )
, but it also gives you what you need .
In each episode , Bradley doesn ’ t just back a truckload of tinsel to the house .
He helps each family uncover what the holidays mean to them specifically , and then he helps them actualize their Rankin/Bass stop-motion character .
You truly do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chance to chat with Benjamin Bradley , the man behind the magic .
We learned how the show turned around custom Christmas displays in a wink of an eye , unpacked why Christmas means so much to the gay community , and tried to untangle Mr. Christmas ’ disdain for inflatable decorations .
Decider : How did you get the title of “ Mr .
Christmas ” ?
Was that a Netflix christening or have you gone by Mr. Christmas before ?
Benjamin Bradley : Personally , a lot of people would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re just Mr. Christmas.
” I belong to a Christmas organization that sort of donned that name onto me .
But then yes , Netflix said , “ Oh , that ’ s just the perfect name .
So let ’ s go with that.
” But there are many Mr. Christmases out there .
That ’ s for sure .
So , yeah .
Is that your actual home that we see in the opening segments ?
It is !
It is actually , yeah .
That ’ s my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] , yeah .
Wow !
How early do you decorate ?
I am way behind this year , but typically we don ’ t really even acknowledge Halloween around here .
I usually start about the second week of October .
And you know , I like trying different things and stuff like that .
So you know , creativity takes a little while .
So , I putz and play and stuff .
It takes probably a week , week and a half to get it all up .
In Holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out all those decorations in three days .
Was that difficult ?
Oh , yeah .
It is difficult , particularly for somebody who ’ s a little OCD , to kind of go , “ Okay , it ’ s just for camera .
Nobody ’ s going to see the details .
Just get it up.
” So it has to be much more planned .
There ’ s less room for , I guess , kind of going , “ Oh , no , maybe I ’ d like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d like to try that.
” No , no , no , no : we ’ re doing this .
And that ’ s all we got time for , so just keep going .
Just keep going .
It was certainly different , but you kind of run on that energy .
It ’ s kind of fun .
What I really love about Holiday Home Makeover is that it ’ s more like Queer Eye in the way that it ’ s not just a makeover show .
It actually gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re helping .
The show tackles the emotions and stress that come along with the holidays .
Was that part of the idea from the outset , to have that emotional resonance ?
It really was .
I said to Netflix early on — and they were really great , because they wanted it to be seasonal .
So we filmed it literally in [ the 2019 holiday ] season .
They said , “ We don ’ t want to film it in the summer.
” So I really appreciated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you read that , as a viewer .
Also , story-wise , I told them , “ Look , I ’ m thrilled to do this .
Nothing could make me happier than to do a Christmas show .
But I don ’ t want drama.
” I ’ m sorry , but when I sit down during the holiday season , I don ’ t want to see drama .
I want to see feel-good [ content ] , grab a cup of cocoa , have a good evening at home sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told them , “ Look , if you just want big lights and big ornaments , there ’ s plenty of people out there who do commercial installations and stuff like that .
But I really want to find the heart in each one of these stories , because I want to personalize [ the decorations ] .
” It ’ s what I do with my interior design work .
I want to personalize each of these things for each of the families .
Because otherwise , it ’ s just lights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some sort of resonance and some sort of connection .
Otherwise , you ’ re right .
Not that there ’ s anything wrong with just another decorating show .
That ’ s fun , too .
But I wanted it to be just a little bit deeper than that .
You also know how to vary decorations to match either a family ’ s taste , their traditions , or their home—or all three .
How do you determine what kind of decorations go with which family ?
You know , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think much of what our jobs are as designers is really to listen , and sort of be a detective .
When I worked with the Sosoo family that we did the candy cane stripes with , [ Kalvin ] had certain things he talked about .
He talked about Stevie Wonder being on the radio and about nostalgic Christmases , and how they had matching pajamas .
And [ Patrice ] , a very stylish young woman , she had a different take on it .
He was more about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present or the future sort of thing .
The Italian family was like , oh , come on , how can we not do della Robia and do this whole fruit thing and stuff ?
So it ’ s just kind of like picking out little details that maybe , again , relate back and make it meaningful to the family .
And then it ’ s fun , because then you don ’ t have to do anything twice .
Repetition is not my strong suit .
I also love the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firehouse and one of your “ elves , ” Rosie , wants to use an inflatable Rudolph .
And you ’ re trying to politely be like , “ Well , that ’ s not the vibe ” —but it ends up there anyway .
Are there lines that you don ’ t like crossing when it comes to Christmas decorations ?
Well , inflatables kind of are .
I just actually said that to somebody , I ’ m like , “ Oh , I hate inflatables .
They look like wet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” They ’ re a lot of bang for the buck , but I just don ’ t think they ’ re very creative .
Of course you have to be a team player and it was right .
It was the right call .
I just was like , “ No , no , no , no , no .
We can ’ t possibly do that.
” But you know , it was something that [ the firehouse already ] had , and so it made it meaningful for them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I have a lot of rules .
I didn ’ t think I did .
No wonder people think I ’ m a little rigid .
“ Wow , there ’ s another rule !
And another rule !
” What are some of the other rules ?
Now I ’ m intrigued !
I hate when people hang their ornaments from the string that came from the store .
Put a hook on the ornament for God ’ s sake !
It drives me crazy when people do that .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t cut tags off .
I can ’ t tell you how many times I had to say to everybody , “ Cut the tags off.
” Cut the tags off on light strings , on garlands , on Christmas trees .
When people just leave the tags on it drives — it ’ s like when people leave the plant stick in when they plant plants in the ground , and they leave that little white tag there .
It drives me bonkers .
I hate when there ’ s a garland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like over fireplaces .
No , split it in half so half the greenery goes in one direction and half the greenery goes in the other direction .
So yeah , it ’ s just ridiculous stuff .
What I really responded to in the show is , being a gay man myself , we don ’ t actually have a lot of gay representation in holiday content .
That ’ s changing this year , with some of the cable movies and your show .
There ’ s finally been this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if Christmas has only ever winked at us before 2020 .
Why do gay men love Christmas ?
I think it has a lot to do with the same reason that sections of the gay population that continue to like to party [ like young people ] .
I think there ’ s certain elements [ of Christmas ] that we didn ’ t fully experience as children , because there was already a recognition that maybe we were different , and we weren ’ t sure quite where we fit in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men , I think even for Christmas enthusiasts , I think a lot of times we ’ re chasing after that childhood comfort and safety that maybe we actually even missed at that time .
But there ’ s a perception about the holidays that , to me , has a kindness about it—a safety about it , a continuity about it .
And I think when you ’ re a young child—a young , gay child—things seem a little uncertain .
And so Christmas actually offers all of that , to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interpretation of it .
I think being uncertain of where you fit when you ’ re young , and then finding a thing like Christmas or finding another tribe .
I mean , that ’ s what I always said : the first time I went to see the Gay Games at Yankee Stadium , I thought , “ Oh my god , this is one of my tribes.
” And then I joined this Christmas organization , and I was like , “ Oh my god , I found another tribe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it ’ s about finding our place .
And I think Christmas offers that place for gay men a lot of times .
Every time I watch the Rankin/Bass Rudolph special and Hermey is like , “ No one knows that I ’ m a dentist.
” And “ dentist ” always feels like it has these quotation marks around it .
Well , yeah !
Look at his swoopy hair , for god sakes !
Some little straight boy didn ’ t get those bangs going .
Come on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ any Christmas any of us have ever experienced before .
Do you have any advice for how people can make Christmas special during this awful year ?
A lot of people have asked , they ’ re like , “ Well , you know , if we ’ re not gathering like we typically do , then what ’ s the point of even decorating if nobody ’ s coming over and nobody ’ s seeing it ?
We ’ re not sitting around the Christmas tree on Christmas morning , blah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
I think for this year , if just putting up a wreath on the front door is all you can muster because that ’ s where you are , I think that ’ s what you should do .
My personal feelings on it is that I ’ m going to take my time because I am not pressured by , “ Oh , we ’ re having our Christmas party !
” Or , “ Here comes the fundraiser !
” or whatever .
I ’ m going to just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But I think because I can ’ t have the people who mean so much to me—and I get all emotional about this kind of stuff .
We can ’ t have the people close to us that we would like to have close .
These Christmas decorations , those ornaments that have been given to me , that have been purchased on trips taken with those friends—those are all coming out , because that ’ s as close as I ’ m gon na get to those people this holiday season .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reason that I ’ m going to decorate .
Because that tree is a scrapbook of mine and my partner ’ s lives together .
And so that ’ s gon na stand as the beacon as to why this holiday still happens even in these odd times .

If there’s one thing we all need at the end of 2020, it’s pure holiday cheer. Thankfully Netflix has Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas, a new reality show that is guaranteed to make you feel very nice after this very naughty year. There’s no trick here, either. This gift is exactly what the wrapping paper leads you to believe: it’s a home makeover show all about decking the halls for the holidays. And the man orchestrating the festivities is interior designer Benjamin Bradley, a.k.a. Mr. Christmas.
But like with the very best gifts, there’s actually a lot of sentiment attached to this special series. Holiday Home Makeover gives you what you want (lots of lights and extravagant trees!), but it also gives you what you need. In each episode, Bradley doesn’t just back a truckload of tinsel to the house. He helps each family uncover what the holidays mean to them specifically, and then he helps them actualize their Rankin/Bass stop-motion character. You truly do love to see it.
Decider got the chance to chat with Benjamin Bradley, the man behind the magic. We learned how the show turned around custom Christmas displays in a wink of an eye, unpacked why Christmas means so much to the gay community, and tried to untangle Mr. Christmas’ disdain for inflatable decorations.
Decider: How did you get the title of “Mr. Christmas”? Was that a Netflix christening or have you gone by Mr. Christmas before?
Benjamin Bradley: Personally, a lot of people would say, “Oh my gosh, you’re just Mr. Christmas.” I belong to a Christmas organization that sort of donned that name onto me. But then yes, Netflix said, “Oh, that’s just the perfect name. So let’s go with that.” But there are many Mr. Christmases out there. That’s for sure. So, yeah.
Is that your actual home that we see in the opening segments?
It is! It is actually, yeah. That’s my apartment here in [New York City], yeah.
Wow! How early do you decorate?
I am way behind this year, but typically we don’t really even acknowledge Halloween around here. I usually start about the second week of October. And you know, I like trying different things and stuff like that. So you know, creativity takes a little while. So, I putz and play and stuff. It takes probably a week, week and a half to get it all up.
In Holiday Home Makeover, you have to knock out all those decorations in three days. Was that difficult?
Oh, yeah. It is difficult, particularly for somebody who’s a little OCD, to kind of go, “Okay, it’s just for camera. Nobody’s going to see the details. Just get it up.” So it has to be much more planned. There’s less room for, I guess, kind of going, “Oh, no, maybe I’d like to try this. Or maybe I’d like to try that.” No, no, no, no: we’re doing this. And that’s all we got time for, so just keep going. Just keep going. It was certainly different, but you kind of run on that energy. It’s kind of fun.
What I really love about Holiday Home Makeover is that it’s more like Queer Eye in the way that it’s not just a makeover show. It actually gets to the heart of the people you’re helping. The show tackles the emotions and stress that come along with the holidays. Was that part of the idea from the outset, to have that emotional resonance?
It really was. I said to Netflix early on — and they were really great, because they wanted it to be seasonal. So we filmed it literally in [the 2019 holiday] season. They said, “We don’t want to film it in the summer.” So I really appreciated the authenticity of that, because I think you read that, as a viewer.
Also, story-wise, I told them, “Look, I’m thrilled to do this. Nothing could make me happier than to do a Christmas show. But I don’t want drama.” I’m sorry, but when I sit down during the holiday season, I don’t want to see drama. I want to see feel-good [content], grab a cup of cocoa, have a good evening at home sort of thing, and enjoy. I told them, “Look, if you just want big lights and big ornaments, there’s plenty of people out there who do commercial installations and stuff like that. But I really want to find the heart in each one of these stories, because I want to personalize [the decorations].” It’s what I do with my interior design work. I want to personalize each of these things for each of the families. Because otherwise, it’s just lights and ornaments. It has to have some sort of resonance and some sort of connection. Otherwise, you’re right. Not that there’s anything wrong with just another decorating show. That’s fun, too. But I wanted it to be just a little bit deeper than that.
You also know how to vary decorations to match either a family’s taste, their traditions, or their home—or all three. How do you determine what kind of decorations go with which family?
You know, it really all comes from the people. I think much of what our jobs are as designers is really to listen, and sort of be a detective. When I worked with the Sosoo family that we did the candy cane stripes with, [Kalvin] had certain things he talked about. He talked about Stevie Wonder being on the radio and about nostalgic Christmases, and how they had matching pajamas. And [Patrice], a very stylish young woman, she had a different take on it. He was more about the past, she was more about the present or the future sort of thing.
The Italian family was like, oh, come on, how can we not do della Robia and do this whole fruit thing and stuff? So it’s just kind of like picking out little details that maybe, again, relate back and make it meaningful to the family. And then it’s fun, because then you don’t have to do anything twice. Repetition is not my strong suit.
I also love the moment when you’re making over the firehouse and one of your “elves,” Rosie, wants to use an inflatable Rudolph. And you’re trying to politely be like, “Well, that’s not the vibe”—but it ends up there anyway. Are there lines that you don’t like crossing when it comes to Christmas decorations?
Well, inflatables kind of are. I just actually said that to somebody, I’m like, “Oh, I hate inflatables. They look like wet dishrags when they’re not inflated.” They’re a lot of bang for the buck, but I just don’t think they’re very creative. Of course you have to be a team player and it was right. It was the right call. I just was like, “No, no, no, no, no. We can’t possibly do that.” But you know, it was something that [the firehouse already] had, and so it made it meaningful for them. I found out during this whole thing that I have a lot of rules. I didn’t think I did. No wonder people think I’m a little rigid. “Wow, there’s another rule! And another rule!”
What are some of the other rules? Now I’m intrigued!
I hate when people hang their ornaments from the string that came from the store. Put a hook on the ornament for God’s sake! It drives me crazy when people do that. It drives me crazy when people don’t cut tags off. I can’t tell you how many times I had to say to everybody, “Cut the tags off.” Cut the tags off on light strings, on garlands, on Christmas trees. When people just leave the tags on it drives — it’s like when people leave the plant stick in when they plant plants in the ground, and they leave that little white tag there. It drives me bonkers. I hate when there’s a garland and it all goes in one direction, like over fireplaces. No, split it in half so half the greenery goes in one direction and half the greenery goes in the other direction. So yeah, it’s just ridiculous stuff.
What I really responded to in the show is, being a gay man myself, we don’t actually have a lot of gay representation in holiday content. That’s changing this year, with some of the cable movies and your show. There’s finally been this acknowledgement that gay men love Christmas, even if Christmas has only ever winked at us before 2020. Why do gay men love Christmas?
I think it has a lot to do with the same reason that sections of the gay population that continue to like to party [like young people]. I think there’s certain elements [of Christmas] that we didn’t fully experience as children, because there was already a recognition that maybe we were different, and we weren’t sure quite where we fit in. And so I think for gay men, I think even for Christmas enthusiasts, I think a lot of times we’re chasing after that childhood comfort and safety that maybe we actually even missed at that time.
But there’s a perception about the holidays that, to me, has a kindness about it—a safety about it, a continuity about it. And I think when you’re a young child—a young, gay child—things seem a little uncertain. And so Christmas actually offers all of that, to me. That’s my sort of interpretation of it. I think being uncertain of where you fit when you’re young, and then finding a thing like Christmas or finding another tribe. I mean, that’s what I always said: the first time I went to see the Gay Games at Yankee Stadium, I thought, “Oh my god, this is one of my tribes.” And then I joined this Christmas organization, and I was like, “Oh my god, I found another tribe. This is incredible!” So, I think it’s about finding our place. And I think Christmas offers that place for gay men a lot of times.
Every time I watch the Rankin/Bass Rudolph special and Hermey is like, “No one knows that I’m a dentist.” And “dentist” always feels like it has these quotation marks around it.
Well, yeah! Look at his swoopy hair, for god sakes! Some little straight boy didn’t get those bangs going. Come on.
Christmas 2020 is going to be unlike any Christmas any of us have ever experienced before. Do you have any advice for how people can make Christmas special during this awful year?
A lot of people have asked, they’re like, “Well, you know, if we’re not gathering like we typically do, then what’s the point of even decorating if nobody’s coming over and nobody’s seeing it? We’re not sitting around the Christmas tree on Christmas morning, blah, blah, blah.” And I get it. I think for this year, if just putting up a wreath on the front door is all you can muster because that’s where you are, I think that’s what you should do. My personal feelings on it is that I’m going to take my time because I am not pressured by, “Oh, we’re having our Christmas party!” Or, “Here comes the fundraiser!” or whatever. I’m going to just kind of let it develop slowly. But I think because I can’t have the people who mean so much to me—and I get all emotional about this kind of stuff. We can’t have the people close to us that we would like to have close. These Christmas decorations, those ornaments that have been given to me, that have been purchased on trips taken with those friends—those are all coming out, because that’s as close as I’m gonna get to those people this holiday season. So that, to me, is the reason that I’m going to decorate. Because that tree is a scrapbook of mine and my partner’s lives together. And so that’s gonna stand as the beacon as to why this holiday still happens even in these odd times.
Stream Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas on Netflix


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--‘Bachelor’ alum Kendall Long’s curious questions inspired new book

Kendall Long hopes to turn the page on typical first date questions .
As the author of the newly released “ Just Curious : A Notebook of Questions , ” the Bachelor Nation fan favorite recently told Page Six how unique queries can potentially open the door for connections beyond the surface level .
“ I had a notebook of questions I would just collect over time because I felt like first dates were a little monotonous , and I wanted to have something that would just kind of spark curiosity and have more of an in-depth connection so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said of the book ’ s inception .
In 2018 , Long , 29 , appeared on Arie Luyendyk Jr. ’ s season of “ The Bachelor , ” and brought her notebook along for the ride .
During one of her dates with Luyendyk , she asked the one-time race car driver , “ If you went to a tribe that ’ s tradition was to eat people after they die , would you try human meat ?
” Long said “ ever since that question got out there , ” her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I see it as something that allows me to ask the questions that I ’ ve always wanted to ask , without it being really weird on the first date , ” Long said , noting the book “ ranges from questions that are not-so-serious , very light-hearted to pretty serious.
” Long , who previously dated “ Bachelorette ” alum “ Grocery Store ” Joe Amabile , said some questions she likes to ask are , “ At what age did you learn the most about yourself ?
” and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun and could enlarge any item 100 times its size , what would you choose and why ?
” “ Some people are so business-focused [ and ] they ’ re like , ‘ Oh , I would do a block of gold or diamond because I ’ d have all this money.
’ Some people say their dog or a coconut , ” Long said .
“ I look for someone who has a curious mind , or a creative mind that can think outside of the box.
” She said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Although Long ’ s “ Bachelor ” days are in the past , she is excited to see where Tayshia Adams ’ “ Bachelorette ” journey takes here , now that Clare Crawley and fiancé Dale Moss are savoring their engagement outside of the show ’ s bubble .
“ I ’ m really excited to start really getting to know more than just Dale .
He ’ s a great guy , and I ’ m sure he ’ s awesome , heard a lot about him , but I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bachelorette ’ explore more connections with more people .
Because that ’ s what I love seeing on ‘ The Bachelorette , ’ like you ’ re surprised with what relationships you really connect with , ” Long said .
“ I ’ m just really looking forward to maybe not having the whole show be about one relationship , ” she continued .

Kendall Long hopes to turn the page on typical first date questions.
As the author of the newly released “Just Curious: A Notebook of Questions,” the Bachelor Nation fan favorite recently told Page Six how unique queries can potentially open the door for connections beyond the surface level.
“I had a notebook of questions I would just collect over time because I felt like first dates were a little monotonous, and I wanted to have something that would just kind of spark curiosity and have more of an in-depth connection so, I started collecting questions,” Long said of the book’s inception.
In 2018, Long, 29, appeared on Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s season of “The Bachelor,” and brought her notebook along for the ride. During one of her dates with Luyendyk, she asked the one-time race car driver, “If you went to a tribe that’s tradition was to eat people after they die, would you try human meat?”
Long said “ever since that question got out there,” her notebook has been in high demand.
“I see it as something that allows me to ask the questions that I’ve always wanted to ask, without it being really weird on the first date,” Long said, noting the book “ranges from questions that are not-so-serious, very light-hearted to pretty serious.”
Long, who previously dated “Bachelorette” alum “Grocery Store” Joe Amabile, said some questions she likes to ask are, “At what age did you learn the most about yourself?” and, “If you had an alien space gun and could enlarge any item 100 times its size, what would you choose and why?”
“Some people are so business-focused [and] they’re like, ‘Oh, I would do a block of gold or diamond because I’d have all this money.’ Some people say their dog or a coconut,” Long said. “I look for someone who has a curious mind, or a creative mind that can think outside of the box.”
She said the book can also be used with friends.
Although Long’s “Bachelor” days are in the past, she is excited to see where Tayshia Adams’ “Bachelorette” journey takes here, now that Clare Crawley and fiancé Dale Moss are savoring their engagement outside of the show’s bubble.
“I’m really excited to start really getting to know more than just Dale. He’s a great guy, and I’m sure he’s awesome, heard a lot about him, but I’m really excited to see the ‘Bachelorette’ explore more connections with more people. Because that’s what I love seeing on ‘The Bachelorette,’ like you’re surprised with what relationships you really connect with,” Long said.
“I’m just really looking forward to maybe not having the whole show be about one relationship,” she continued.


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Danish agriculture minister quits over mink culling fiasco

Denmark ’ s minister for food and agriculture resigned Wednesday after the government admitted it did not have the right to order the culling of all farmed mink without having the necessary legislation in place first .
The culling had been ordered after a mutated version of the coronavirus was found in some farms and had infected people .
There is no evidence the mutated version is more dangerous but the country acted quickly out of safety — though it lacked the legal basis to also order the killing of healthy animals .
“ I have today informed the prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government , ” said the 57-year-old minister , Mogens Jensen .
“ I apologize … and I take full responsibility for that , ” he told Danish broadcaster DR after the left-leaning parties that support the Social Democratic one-party , minority government said they no longer have confidence in him .
The government began the cull last month by killing infected animals — but the order also was given that non-infected animals were to be culled though it did not have the legal authority to do so .
In total , about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a new strain of COVID-19 emerged among the furry critters .

Denmark’s minister for food and agriculture resigned Wednesday after the government admitted it did not have the right to order the culling of all farmed mink without having the necessary legislation in place first.
The culling had been ordered after a mutated version of the coronavirus was found in some farms and had infected people.
There is no evidence the mutated version is more dangerous but the country acted quickly out of safety — though it lacked the legal basis to also order the killing of healthy animals.
“I have today informed the prime minister that I want to resign from the government,” said the 57-year-old minister, Mogens Jensen.
“I apologize … and I take full responsibility for that,” he told Danish broadcaster DR after the left-leaning parties that support the Social Democratic one-party, minority government said they no longer have confidence in him.
The center-right opposition also voiced similar reservations.
The government began the cull last month by killing infected animals — but the order also was given that non-infected animals were to be culled though it did not have the legal authority to do so.
In total, about 15 million minks are to be killed after a new strain of COVID-19 emerged among the furry critters.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Hot dam! This orphaned beaver is an internet sensation

A bodacious beaver broke the ice — and then the ...

Sometimes cute and playful. I enjoy while it lasts. He mostly just wants the nurturing feeling he would get from his family. #FamilyImpression #fyp
There’s a new four-legged internet star — and it’s not a dog or cat.
Meet Beave, an orphaned beaver in New York, whose adorable escapades while in wildlife rehab are blowing up the internet.
“No one expected it,” owner Nancy Coyne, 46, told The Post about the buck-toothed sensation, who boasts more than 523,000 followers on TikTok. The Orange County-based wildlife rehabilitation expert adopted Beave from a good Samaritan who found the roly-poly rodent by a road at 3 weeks old. She suspected that his parents might have been killed by poachers because adults rarely take baby beavers — known as kits — out of their dwellings when they’re that small.
Despite the two years required to rear a beaver, the kindhearted New Yorker ultimately decided to keep him, because the animal sanctuaries were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Coyne’s daughter thought up the idea of documenting Beave’s progress on TikTok — an endeavor her mom initially assumed would be “boring.”
Today, the now-9-month-old beaver’s home movies regularly rack up hundreds of thousands of views. The cute clips depict Beave doing everything from snuggling a stuffed beaver to MacGyvering makeshift lodges — beavers’ signature stick homes — out of toilet plungers, running shoes and other household items.
In the most viral video to date with over 15.3 million views, Coyne can be seen letting a sopping wet Beave inside the house like one would a golden retriever.
@beaverbabyfurrylove Beave sense of smell and home is so strong that even up at the Lake House without a doggie door he still knows where to return. #InteriorDesign #fyp ♬ original sound – Beave
It might seem like nonstop fun, but rehabilitating a baby beaver has proven challenging for his adoptive parent.
“He’s got a ton of training that he’s gonna have to go through in the next two years,” explained Coyne in a Q&A on her YouTube channel.
In order to prepare him for life in the wild, Coyne had to take the place of an adult beaver, who teach their babies everything during their first two years. This meant showing Beave how to swim, dive and even eat — behaviors that may seem instinctive but are actually learned from parents.
“All of it he picked up by mimicking me,” Coyne told The Post of his training, noting that Beave “wouldn’t even get into water until I got in.” His surrogate mother helped acclimate him to his aquatic lifestyle by spending the summer swimming with her fur baby.
For food training, meanwhile, Coyne would pretend to munch on wood and dandelions and then give them to Beave so he could follow suit. We’re just thankful that she didn’t have to demonstrate bursting through a frozen pond.
It appears that the interspecies instruction has paid off — as evidenced by multiple clips of the busy little beaver frolicking in the water and gnawing on a stick like a corn cob.
Coyne told The Post that Beave will be officially ready to leave his current lodge — most likely in 2022 — when he “starts to show aggression” and “distance himself” from mom. “That’s a really nice indicator that we’re doing something right,” explained the beaver rehab expert.
After a “soft release” into a nearby pond, during which Beave will be supervised by Coyne, he will finally depart for real.
Much like seeing one’s child off to college, the moment will likely be bittersweet for his loving guardian.
“A lot of people on TikTok don’t believe I’m going to be able to release him,” said Coyne, fondly, “but that’s why we do this.”
“We don’t do this to keep them or domesticate them or think that they’re gonna live with us,” she said. “We do this to get to the end goal, which is to release.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Takk McKinley waived by Bengals after demanding Falcons trade

The Atlanta Falcons reportedly levied an undisclosed fine on Thursday ...

Former Falcons defensive end Takk McKinley got his wish to be released from the Falcons – only to be waived again by the Bengals.
The former first-round pick caused a stir in early November when he went on a tweetstorm against his former team, revealing the Falcons’ unwillingness to trade him.
“These @AtlantaFalcons turned down a 2nd round draft pick when I requested to get traded last year,” he wrote. “The same @AtlantaFalcons turned down a 5th and 6th round draft pick from multiple teams when I requested to get traded this year.”
“I only have 17.5 career sacks,” he added, accompanied by three clown emojis.
McKinley got his wish when he was waived after the trade deadline, and the Bengals claimed him days later. But after participating in virtual meetings, the Bengals waived him again after he failed a physical.
The source of the failed physical was not known as of Tuesday, according to ESPN.


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--‘The Flight Attendant’ Is an Addicting Trainwreck You Need to Watch

Like an expert bartender mixing the perfect drink , everything about The Flight Attendant seems specifically crafted to draw you in .
A drama all about a reckless , drunken flight attendant waking up with a dead body in her bed ?
And that drunken mess being played by Kaley Cuoco , TV ’ s queen of relatable messes ?
Yes , please .
But it ’ s the series ’ awareness about that very craziness that makes HBO Max ’ s new original such a triumph .
The Flight Attendant knows that it ’ s an addictive cocktail of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its drama-riddled welcome .
Developed by Steve Yockey and executive produced by Cuoco and Greg Berlanti , the miniseries is based on the novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian .
Both the series and the novel follow Cassandra Bowden , a booze-soaked heap of a person who loves to party and travel .
Her life spent clubbing around the world is something she takes pride in until one morning when she wakes up in Bangkok , hungover , and laying next to the bloody corpse of her latest hookup .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure out what really happened during her blacked out haze to clear her name — and along the way she ’ ll also have to question her relationship with her favorite vice , drinking .
It ’ s a story that ’ s practically made for the episodic world of television , but it ’ s Cuoco ’ s performance that truly sells the show .
It was always a running joke that The Big Bang Theory ’ s Penny was a messy party girl , but CBS only showed the network version @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attendant Cuoco completely lets loose — and the result is an absolute joy to watch .
Cuoco commits to Cassie ’ s constantly terrible ideas fully , flinging herself from cleaning up a crime scene to having a panic attack in an airplane bathroom .
Every one of Cassie ’ s decisions is dumber than the last , yet Cuoco sells her unending desperation so well you can ’ t help feeling sorry for her , just as you ’ re screaming for her to stop .
Part of that has to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so expertly hides .
In the first moments of The Flight Attendant , Cassie ’ s hard drinking and constantly partying ways feel like something that can be shrugged off with a laugh .
Downing a shot while serving customers at work ?
That ’ s just Cassie .
Yet as she dives deeper into this murder it becomes more and more difficult to brush off Cassie ’ s constant need for a bottle .
This woman undoubtedly has a drinking problem — yet Cuoco does an excellent job of using her charm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough so that you always fall under Cassie ’ s spell , just like everyone else in her life .
Those others speak to another one of The Flight Attendant ‘ s strengths : its supporting cast .
Rosie Perez co-stars as Cassie ’ s work best friend Megan , and Zosia Mamet plays her real best friend , Ani the lawyer .
Perez has always been one of those actors who delivers — and yet is criminally underutilized in Hollywood .
As Megan , Perez is charmingly bumbling enough to make you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unpredictable threat .
And Mamet serves the spoonful of Girls ’ sass this series desperately needs .
As the frank , sarcastic , and millennial chic Ani , Mamet consistently adds fun back into the series ’ most stressful moments .
Now more than ever we need shows that are all-consuming and addicting while also being fun and light .
On every count The Flight Attendant excels .
Like a night plastered at your favorite bar , it may not be the most important or essential show this year .
But , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first three episodes of The Flight Attendant premiere on HBO Max Thursday , November 26 , followed by the launch of two new episodes on December 3 , two episodes on December 10 , and the finale episode on December 17

Like an expert bartender mixing the perfect drink, everything about The Flight Attendant seems specifically crafted to draw you in. A drama all about a reckless, drunken flight attendant waking up with a dead body in her bed? And that drunken mess being played by Kaley Cuoco, TV’s queen of relatable messes? Yes, please. But it’s the series’ awareness about that very craziness that makes HBO Max’s new original such a triumph. The Flight Attendant knows that it’s an addictive cocktail of a show, and it never overstays its drama-riddled welcome.
Developed by Steve Yockey and executive produced by Cuoco and Greg Berlanti, the miniseries is based on the novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian. Both the series and the novel follow Cassandra Bowden, a booze-soaked heap of a person who loves to party and travel. Her life spent clubbing around the world is something she takes pride in until one morning when she wakes up in Bangkok, hungover, and laying next to the bloody corpse of her latest hookup. As Cassie flees the scene she has to figure out what really happened during her blacked out haze to clear her name — and along the way she’ll also have to question her relationship with her favorite vice, drinking.
It’s a story that’s practically made for the episodic world of television, but it’s Cuoco’s performance that truly sells the show. It was always a running joke that The Big Bang Theory‘s Penny was a messy party girl, but CBS only showed the network version of that trope. In The Flight Attendant Cuoco completely lets loose — and the result is an absolute joy to watch. Cuoco commits to Cassie’s constantly terrible ideas fully, flinging herself from cleaning up a crime scene to having a panic attack in an airplane bathroom. Every one of Cassie’s decisions is dumber than the last, yet Cuoco sells her unending desperation so well you can’t help feeling sorry for her, just as you’re screaming for her to stop.
Part of that has to do with the demons Cuoco’s performance so expertly hides. In the first moments of The Flight Attendant, Cassie’s hard drinking and constantly partying ways feel like something that can be shrugged off with a laugh. Downing a shot while serving customers at work? That’s just Cassie. Yet as she dives deeper into this murder it becomes more and more difficult to brush off Cassie’s constant need for a bottle. This woman undoubtedly has a drinking problem — yet Cuoco does an excellent job of using her charm to cover up that dark truth just enough so that you always fall under Cassie’s spell, just like everyone else in her life.
Those others speak to another one of The Flight Attendant‘s strengths: its supporting cast. Rosie Perez co-stars as Cassie’s work best friend Megan, and Zosia Mamet plays her real best friend, Ani the lawyer. Perez has always been one of those actors who delivers — and yet is criminally underutilized in Hollywood. As Megan, Perez is charmingly bumbling enough to make you love her while somehow always feeling like an unpredictable threat. And Mamet serves the spoonful of Girls’ sass this series desperately needs. As the frank, sarcastic, and millennial chic Ani, Mamet consistently adds fun back into the series’ most stressful moments.
Now more than ever we need shows that are all-consuming and addicting while also being fun and light. On every count The Flight Attendant excels. Like a night plastered at your favorite bar, it may not be the most important or essential show this year. But, god, is it a blast.
The first three episodes of The Flight Attendant premiere on HBO Max Thursday, November 26, followed by the launch of two new episodes on December 3, two episodes on December 10, and the finale episode on December 17
Watch The Flight Attendant on HBO Max


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Lindsey Graham says Kamala Harris fist bump was just ‘saying hello’

A 13-year-old girl who died of cystic fibrosis is flipping ...

Sen. Lindsey Graham says he was simply “saying hello” to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris when he fist-bumped her on the Senate floor.
The friendly exchange was caught on video during a Tuesday vote on a Federal Reserve nominee — despite Graham’s claims of voter fraud in the election.
“Just saying hello. I haven’t seen in her in a while,” the key ally of President Trump told CNN’s Manu Raju. “If it works out and they make it, I told her I wish her well and try to work where we can. We will know here in a month or so or less.”
Graham (R-SC), the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, has been accused of pressuring Georgia’s secretary of state to toss legally cast ballots — a claim Graham ripped as “ridiculous.”
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement Lindsey Graham fist-bumps Kamala Harris on the Senate floor. C-SPAN Lindsey Graham fist-bumps Kamala Harris on the Senate floor. C-SPAN Advertisement
Graham said he’s recently spoken to election officials in several states about his concerns “about the integrity of the election process nationally, when it comes to vote by mail.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Family fights to keep photo of daughter giving the finger on her gravestone

Pfizer said its COVID-19 vaccine was 95 percent effective and ...

A 13-year-old girl who died of cystic fibrosis is flipping the bird from the grave — and her family wants her to continue doing so, according to a report.
Kayla Carle, of Aberdeen, Scotland, defied doctors’ predictions when she woke up from a coma after catching the flu last year, but ended up in a wheelchair and was placed on oxygen because of her ravaged lungs, the Mirror reported.
After several months, she caught another bug and died in February.
“In Loving Memory Of Kayla Leanne Carle,” her epitaph reads. “C.F. Warrior … Beloved Daughter, Sister, Granddaughter, Niece, Cousin & Friend. Rip Babe.”
And in an attached photo, the teen is seen giving the finger at the Hazlehead Cemetery.
Kayla’s mom, Rachael, 32, this week received a call from the City Council saying that someone had been offended by the cheeky display, according to the Mirror.
“I got a phone call from the council telling me that someone had put in a complaint about the picture on my daughter’s headstone saying it was rude and inappropriate,” the mom told the outlet.
“They said they needed the picture taken down. The picture represents the type of character she was. It was who she was. It was one of her favorite pictures,” she added. “She liked her pranks, she liked to mess around and she spoke her mind.”
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Kayla Carle and her siblings Courtesy of Rachael Carle Kayla Carle's gravestone in Hazlehead Cemetery in Aberdeen, Scotland. Courtesy of Rachael Carle Advertisement Kayla Carle Courtesy of Rachael Carle Advertisement
The council has offered to swap the picture free of charge, but Rachael said she wants it to stay right where it is.
“I have no sympathy for the person that was offended,” she told the outlet.
“They don’t have to look at it. I lost my 13-year-old daughter. I picked that picture for a reason, it represents her. If you don’t like it, don’t look at it.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Pfizer says vaccine is 95% effective against COVID-19, no serious side effects

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Pfizer on Wednesday said its COVID-19 vaccine was 95 percent effective and had no serious side effects — and that it will be submitted for regulatory approval “ within days , ” according to reports .
The US drugmaker and its German partner BioNTech announced that their vaccine is even more effective at preventing the disease than what they previously thought — 90 percent — last week , NBC News reported .
After completing their Phase 3 trial , the companies said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 41,135 adults who received two doses .
The most common reactions were that 3.7 percent of them experienced fatigue and 2 percent had a headache , they said .
“ The study results mark an important step in this historic eight-month journey to bring forward a vaccine capable of helping to end this devastating pandemic , ” Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla said in the statement , NBC News reported .
“ With hundreds of thousands of people around the globe infected every day , we urgently need to get a safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he added .
Pfizer and BioNTech analyzed 170 confirmed cases among the roughly 40,000 people involved in the trial .
Just eight people who were given the jab got sick , compared with 162 who were given a placebo , according to the network .
Last week , the data looked at 94 confirmed cases and showed 90 percent efficacy .
The two companies said they will submit a request “ within days ” for emergency use authorization with the US Food and Drug Administration .
Pfizer said it plans to manufacture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit — this year and 1.3 billion in 2021 , at facilities in Missouri , Massachusetts , Michigan and Belgium .
But only about half of the supply will go to the US this year — or enough for about 12.5 million people , the New York Times reported .
Americans will receive the shot for free , under a $ 1.95 billion deal the federal government reached with Pfizer for 100 million doses , according to the newspaper .
The news comes days after Massachusetts-based Moderna said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial suggested its inoculation candidate was 94.5 percent effective .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Pfizer on Wednesday said its COVID-19 vaccine was 95 percent effective and had no serious side effects — and that it will be submitted for regulatory approval “within days,” according to reports.
The US drugmaker and its German partner BioNTech announced that their vaccine is even more effective at preventing the disease than what they previously thought — 90 percent — last week, NBC News reported.
After completing their Phase 3 trial, the companies said there have been no serious side effects among the 41,135 adults who received two doses. The most common reactions were that 3.7 percent of them experienced fatigue and 2 percent had a headache, they said.
“The study results mark an important step in this historic eight-month journey to bring forward a vaccine capable of helping to end this devastating pandemic,” Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla said in the statement, NBC News reported.
“With hundreds of thousands of people around the globe infected every day, we urgently need to get a safe and effective vaccine to the world,” he added.
Pfizer and BioNTech analyzed 170 confirmed cases among the roughly 40,000 people involved in the trial. Just eight people who were given the jab got sick, compared with 162 who were given a placebo, according to the network.
Last week, the data looked at 94 confirmed cases and showed 90 percent efficacy.
The two companies said they will submit a request “within days” for emergency use authorization with the US Food and Drug Administration.
Pfizer said it plans to manufacture 50 million doses — which must be kept at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit — this year and 1.3 billion in 2021, at facilities in Missouri, Massachusetts, Michigan and Belgium.
But only about half of the supply will go to the US this year — or enough for about 12.5 million people, the New York Times reported.
Americans will receive the shot for free, under a $1.95 billion deal the federal government reached with Pfizer for 100 million doses, according to the newspaper.
The news comes days after Massachusetts-based Moderna said early results from its own Phase 3 trial suggested its inoculation candidate was 94.5 percent effective.


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Clever cat uses toilet like a person

Clever cat uses toilet like a person

This kitty ditched the litter box for the loo .
Pet owners Garry and Angela Oakes in Powys , UK @ @ @ @ @ out their rescue cat of just two weeks knows how to use a toilet .
@ @ @ @ @ Dylan the cat hops on the john and goes No .
2 .

This kitty ditched the litter box for the loo. Pet owners Garry and Angela Oakes in Powys, UK, were shocked to find out their rescue cat of just two weeks knows how to use a toilet. Watch the surprising video as Dylan the cat hops on the john and goes No. 2.
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newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden have ‘warm conversation,’ agree to meet soon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , an ally of President Trump , had a “ warm conversation ” with President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday as he joined the ranks of world leaders who ’ ve acknowledged his election win , according to a report .
“ The two agreed to meet soon to discuss the many issues that are pending and reaffirmed the need to continue to strengthen the strong alliance between the United States and Israel , ” Netanyahu ’ s office said in a statement , Reuters reported .
Biden ’ s transition team said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister for his congratulations and reiterated his steadfast support for Israel ’ s security and its future as a Jewish and democratic state.
” On Nov. 8 , Netanyahu congratulated Biden and running mate Kamala Harris after the Democrat declared victory .
The Israeli leader also thanked Trump — who is contesting the election results — for his friendship toward the Jewish state .
Netanyahu had refrained earlier from referring to Biden as “ president-elect , ” but the statement released Tuesday did use that term .
President Reuven Rivlin also congratulated Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-standing friend ” of Israel , according to a spokesman for the Israeli president , whose role is mostly ceremonial .
The Biden transition team said in a statement that the president-elect “ looks forward to working with Israel to build an ever stronger partnership between our two countries.
” Earlier Tuesday , Netanyahu was noncommittal when asked on local radio who he believed won the US election .
“ Why do I have to express an opinion ?
” he answered .
“ They have an internal process , the Electoral College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understands what … is apparently going to happen officially .
”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an ally of President Trump, had a “warm conversation” with President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday as he joined the ranks of world leaders who’ve acknowledged his election win, according to a report.
“The two agreed to meet soon to discuss the many issues that are pending and reaffirmed the need to continue to strengthen the strong alliance between the United States and Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, Reuters reported.
Biden’s transition team said in a statement: “The president-elect thanked the prime minister for his congratulations and reiterated his steadfast support for Israel’s security and its future as a Jewish and democratic state.”
On Nov. 8, Netanyahu congratulated Biden and running mate Kamala Harris after the Democrat declared victory. The Israeli leader also thanked Trump — who is contesting the election results — for his friendship toward the Jewish state.
Netanyahu had refrained earlier from referring to Biden as “president-elect,” but the statement released Tuesday did use that term.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin also congratulated Biden on Tuesday and called him a “long-standing friend” of Israel, according to a spokesman for the Israeli president, whose role is mostly ceremonial.
The Biden transition team said in a statement that the president-elect “looks forward to working with Israel to build an ever stronger partnership between our two countries.”
Earlier Tuesday, Netanyahu was noncommittal when asked on local radio who he believed won the US election.
“Why do I have to express an opinion?” he answered. “They have an internal process, the Electoral College. I think everybody more or less understands what … is apparently going to happen officially.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Left-wing group linked to AOC pressures Biden to remake economy

A left-wing group with ties to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is pressuring President-elect Joe Biden to use executive orders for liberal policies to revive the economy — including the Green New Deal — when he takes control of the White House in January .
New Consensus sent Biden a seven-page manifesto Wednesday suggesting that he become the Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the 21st Century , mobilizing the massive government machinery at his disposal to fix the nation ’ s creaky infrastructure and limping manufacturing sectors amid the coronavirus pandemic while creating sustainable jobs of the future .
New Consensus was founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ocasio-Cortez ’ s controversial campaign manager for her initial run for office and as her first chief of staff in Congress .
The brash-talking former confidante left AOC ’ s office amid claims he skirted campaign fundraising rules .
The group ’ s press spokesman , Corbin Trent , was formerly AOC ’ s communications director for her congressional office and initial campaign .
The group helped the congresswoman craft her proposed Green New Deal aimed at transitioning America from carbon-spewing fossil fuels to a clean energy economy .
AOC had input in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The group ’ s manifesto calls on Biden to tap the Federal Reserve to provide trillions of dollars in low-interest loans directly to businesses and projects .
They noted that former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama leaned on the Fed to lend trillions to banks during the 2008 financial recession .
The group said Biden should require the Fed to return to its mission of developing the US economy by empowering regional regional banks to invest in their local economies .
In order to prevent the money from being misused for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan recommends the next president create a National Development Council that would be tasked with setting criteria for sound investments and turning Biden ’ s Build Back Better program into reality .
Biden could use his executive authority to direct funding to build new mask factories to address COVID-19 and steer money into the auto industry to convert to 100 percent electric cars while building the charging stations necessary to make the choice possible , New Consensus said .
A release summarizing the manifesto said of Biden : “ He could upgrade millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He could make sure small businesses in every single Congressional district throughout the country get access to the capital they need to thrive .
“ He can restore the United States as an advanced manufacturing superpower and he could make sure America is leading the world in the development of the next generation of technology in everything from energy to Artificial Intelligence .
“ If President Biden is able to rise to this moment , he can create millions of good , high-wage jobs in every community across the country , bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depression to be better and stronger than ever before — and he doesn ’ t need the Senate to do it.
” The manifesto calls on Biden to help “ scale up ” the green industries of today and tomorrow evenly across all regions of the country– including solar panels , wind-turbine generators and 6G networks , life-extension and space exploration , among others .
“ This is what we did in the 1930s and 1940s , and is what we must do again , ” the manifesto said .
The plan also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transportation and communications and power grid networks .
The focus on cutting-edge industries with great export potential will help restore America ’ s lost role as a world leader in developing “ unrivaled products.
” The New Census memo is yet another example that activists and thinkers on the left intend to hold Biden accountable for his campaign promises .
Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives are holding Biden ’ s feet to the fire on cabinet hires .
Chakrabarti , New Consensus ’ president , said the group wants to help Biden act quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to use every tool at his disposal to lead this country out of crisis , we aim to help the Biden administration get to work on plan B should he have a non-cooperative Senate , ” Chakraberti said .
“ Biden could directly and swiftly implement much of his plan to ‘ Build Back Better ’ and renew the American economy without Congress – using only his presidential powers and responsibilities , ” he said .

A left-wing group with ties to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is pressuring President-elect Joe Biden to use executive orders for liberal policies to revive the economy — including the Green New Deal — when he takes control of the White House in January.
New Consensus sent Biden a seven-page manifesto Wednesday suggesting that he become the Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the 21st Century, mobilizing the massive government machinery at his disposal to fix the nation’s creaky infrastructure and limping manufacturing sectors amid the coronavirus pandemic while creating sustainable jobs of the future.
New Consensus was founded by Saika Chakrabarti, who served as Ocasio-Cortez’s controversial campaign manager for her initial run for office and as her first chief of staff in Congress. The brash-talking former confidante left AOC’s office amid claims he skirted campaign fundraising rules.
The group’s press spokesman, Corbin Trent, was formerly AOC’s communications director for her congressional office and initial campaign.
The group helped the congresswoman craft her proposed Green New Deal aimed at transitioning America from carbon-spewing fossil fuels to a clean energy economy. AOC had input in Biden’s clean energy plan.
The group’s manifesto calls on Biden to tap the Federal Reserve to provide trillions of dollars in low-interest loans directly to businesses and projects. They noted that former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama leaned on the Fed to lend trillions to banks during the 2008 financial recession.
The group said Biden should require the Fed to return to its mission of developing the US economy by empowering regional regional banks to invest in their local economies.
In order to prevent the money from being misused for speculative trading or stock buybacks, the plan recommends the next president create a National Development Council that would be tasked with setting criteria for sound investments and turning Biden’s Build Back Better program into reality.
Biden could use his executive authority to direct funding to build new mask factories to address COVID-19 and steer money into the auto industry to convert to 100 percent electric cars while building the charging stations necessary to make the choice possible, New Consensus said.
A release summarizing the manifesto said of Biden: “He could upgrade millions of homes to be more energy efficient. He could make sure small businesses in every single Congressional district throughout the country get access to the capital they need to thrive.
“He can restore the United States as an advanced manufacturing superpower and he could make sure America is leading the world in the development of the next generation of technology in everything from energy to Artificial Intelligence.
“If President Biden is able to rise to this moment, he can create millions of good, high-wage jobs in every community across the country, bringing this country out of the current economic depression to be better and stronger than ever before — and he doesn’t need the Senate to do it.”
The manifesto calls on Biden to help “scale up” the green industries of today and tomorrow evenly across all regions of the country– including solar panels, wind-turbine generators and 6G networks, life-extension and space exploration, among others.
“This is what we did in the 1930s and 1940s, and is what we must do again,” the manifesto said.
The plan also said the Biden administration must modernize aging transportation and communications and power grid networks.
The focus on cutting-edge industries with great export potential will help restore America’s lost role as a world leader in developing “unrivaled products.”
The New Census memo is yet another example that activists and thinkers on the left intend to hold Biden accountable for his campaign promises. Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives are holding Biden’s feet to the fire on cabinet hires.
Chakrabarti, New Consensus’ president, said the group wants to help Biden act quickly.
“While we hope Biden is able to use every tool at his disposal to lead this country out of crisis, we aim to help the Biden administration get to work on plan B should he have a non-cooperative Senate,” Chakraberti said.
“Biden could directly and swiftly implement much of his plan to ‘Build Back Better’ and renew the American economy without Congress – using only his presidential powers and responsibilities,” he said.


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Eric Adams to officially launch mayoral bid Wednesday

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will declare Wednesday that he wants to be the next mayor of New York City , The Post has learned .
Adams , who has already raised nearly $ 2.6 million for a run he has long been teasing , will be joined by supporters at a virtual event as he formally throws his hat into the ring for the 2021 mayoral race , sources said .
His campaign will likely be focused on appealing to more moderate portions of the party , including predominately black precincts in Central Brooklyn and southeastern Queens , experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Campaign Finance Board show that roughly two dozen people have already filed to run to replace a termed-out Mayor Bill de Blasio .
Adams — who retired from the NYPD as a captain — is widely considered one the early frontrunners in the Democratic Party ’ s June 2021 primary .
City Comptroller Scott Stringer , a longtime veteran of Manhattan politics , has already raised nearly $ 2.8 million for his bid , more than anyone else so far .
There are also three former de Blasio administration officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSNBC commentator Maya Wiley , who was a top aide to Hizzoner during his first term , former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia , a veteran of the de Blasio and Michael Bloomberg administrations , and Loree Sutton , a veteran and former head of the city ’ s Department of Veterans ’ Services .
Shaun Donovan , another veteran of the Bloomberg administration and former President Barack Obama ’ s chief budget writer , has raised nearly $ 700,000 for his bid so far .
Money isn ’ t expected to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the most prominent African American financial executives on Wall Street before he stepped down from his post at Citigroup to jump into the race .
And Councilman Carlos Menchaca recently mounted a bid , too , after killing a controversial development plan in his Sunset Park district .

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams on Wednesday revealed the city’s worst kept secret — he is running to replace Bill de Blasio as the next mayor of New York City.
The former NYPD officer, who has already raised nearly $2.6 million for a run he has long been teasing, made the announcement via a virtual event to officially toss his hat into the crowded ring for the 2021 mayoral race.
His campaign will be focused on appealing to more moderate portions of the party, including predominately black precincts in Central Brooklyn and southeastern Queens, experts say.
In a video titled “Rise Up” announcing the bid, Adams said, “I became a police officer to bridge the gap between us, to make us all safer and to take on systemic racism from within.”
In a Zoom live announcement later, Adams said, “Our city is facing a crisis like we have never seen. We have lost nearly 25,000 New Yorkers to this virus and hundreds of thousands of jobs — and I know it far too well.
“And we are still losing…The fight is far from over.”
“Like so many New Yorkers, my struggle started early in life. My mom worked to clean houses and help make ends meet and raise her six children, when we came home from school we didn’t know if we would have food on the table or an eviction notice on the front door. That was real. But we preserved because that’s what New Yorkers do.
“As hard as it was, I still grew up loving this city, these people, these cultures, New York all laid on top of each other, finding common connections in those struggles wherever there are differences.”
Records filed with the city’s Campaign Finance Board show that roughly two dozen people have already filed to run to replace a term-limited de Blasio.
Adams — who retired from the NYPD as a captain — is widely considered one the early frontrunners in the Democratic Party’s June 2021 primary.
“I became a police officer to change the NYPD from the inside, to take on systemic racism from within,” Adams said Wednesday. “Not an easy task, but I believed it was possible and that is why I spent my entire adult life in public service.”
City Comptroller Scott Stringer, a longtime veteran of Manhattan politics, has already raised nearly $2.8 million for his bid, more than anyone else so far.
There are also three former de Blasio administration officials in the race: civil rights attorney and MSNBC commentator Maya Wiley, who was a top aide to Hizzoner during his first term, former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia, a veteran of the de Blasio and Michael Bloomberg administrations, and Loree Sutton, a veteran and former head of the city’s Department of Veterans’ Services.
Shaun Donovan, another veteran of the Bloomberg administration and former President Barack Obama’s chief budget writer, has raised nearly $700,000 for his bid so far.
Money isn’t expected to be a problem for Ray McGuire, who was one of the most prominent African American financial executives on Wall Street before he stepped down from his post at Citigroup to jump into the race.
And Councilman Carlos Menchaca recently mounted a bid, too, after killing a controversial development plan in his Sunset Park district.


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--900 Mayo Clinic staffers diagnosed with COVID-19 over last two weeks

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More than 900 staffers at the Mayo Clinic have reportedly been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past two weeks .
Dr. Amy Williams , dean of clinical practices at the multi-state hospital system , announced the number on Tuesday during a call with reporters .
According to Williams , 93 percent of the cases in the clinic were contracted in community areas , such as break rooms , while employees were eating or partaking in other activities with their masks off , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It shows you how easy it is to get COVID-19 in the Midwest , ” said Williams .
“ Our staff are being infected mostly due to community spread , and this impacts our ability to care for patients .
We need everyone in the communities we serve to do their part to limit the spread of COVID-19.
” Since the start of the pandemic earlier this year , 2,981 Mayo Clinic employees have been infected by the coronavirus .
The hospital system is already facing a shortage of staffers , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main Rochester , Minnesota , campus are currently full .
“ All of our hospitals are really stretched , ” Williams said .
“ But we continue to have capacity for anybody who needs our care.
” The hospital system is also managing a COVID-19 outpatient program where hundreds of people are being prescribed the antiviral drug remdesivir to help free up beds .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 900 staffers at the Mayo Clinic have reportedly been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past two weeks.
Dr. Amy Williams, dean of clinical practices at the multi-state hospital system, announced the number on Tuesday during a call with reporters.
According to Williams, 93 percent of the cases in the clinic were contracted in community areas, such as break rooms, while employees were eating or partaking in other activities with their masks off, according to the Twin Cities Pioneer Press.
“It shows you how easy it is to get COVID-19 in the Midwest,” said Williams.
“Our staff are being infected mostly due to community spread, and this impacts our ability to care for patients. We need everyone in the communities we serve to do their part to limit the spread of COVID-19.”
Since the start of the pandemic earlier this year, 2,981 Mayo Clinic employees have been infected by the coronavirus.
The hospital system is already facing a shortage of staffers, and all of the ICU beds at its main Rochester, Minnesota, campus are full.
“All of our hospitals are really stretched,” Williams said. “But we continue to have capacity for anybody who needs our care.”
The hospital system is also managing a COVID-19 outpatient program where hundreds of people are being prescribed the antiviral drug remdesivir to help free up beds.


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--FBI probing claims that Texas AG Ken Paxton committed bribery

The FBI is probing accusations that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton used his position to benefit a wealthy donor , sources told the Associated Press .
The allegations of wrongdoing were lodged against Paxton by seven of his now-former staffers in late September .
Paxton ’ s former executives , in a letter to their director of human resources , have accused him of bribery , abuse of office and other crimes to benefit Austin real estate developer Nate Paul , sources familiar with the federal investigation told AP .
The full nature of the allegations are unclear , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiring of an outside lawyer to assist Paul , who had claimed the FBI improperly searched his home and offices last year .
In 2018 , the real estate developer donated $ 25,000 to Paxton ’ s reelection campaign .
Paxton ’ s accusers have either resigned , been put on leave or been fired since coming forward with the allegations against their boss .
In a Tuesday statement to the Austin American-Stateman , Paxton said , “ after reviewing the claims made by former employees of this office , their allegations are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a large degree misrepresent the facts.
” The attorney general , a Republican , is already facing legal trouble .
He was indicted back in 2015 on federal charges over alleged securities fraud .

The FBI is probing accusations that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton used his position to benefit a wealthy donor, sources told the Associated Press.
The allegations of wrongdoing were lodged against Paxton by seven of his now-former staffers in late September.
Paxton’s former executives, in a letter to their director of human resources, have accused him of bribery, abuse of office and other crimes to benefit Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, sources familiar with the federal investigation told AP.
The full nature of the allegations is unclear, but they reportedly revolve around Paxton’s hiring of an outside lawyer to assist Paul, who had claimed the FBI improperly searched his home and offices last year.
In 2018, the real estate developer donated $25,000 to Paxton’s re-election campaign.
Paxton’s accusers have either resigned, been put on leave or been fired since coming forward with the allegations against their boss.
In a Tuesday statement to the Austin American-Stateman, Paxton said, “after reviewing the claims made by former employees of this office, their allegations are overblown, based upon assumptions, and to a large degree misrepresent the facts.”
The attorney general, a Republican, is already facing legal trouble. He was indicted in 2015 on federal charges over alleged securities fraud.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Seahawks’ Russell Wilson under more pressure as turnovers rise

RENTON , Wash. — With all the yards and touchdowns he ’ s thrown for this season , Seattle ’ s Russell Wilson has been more exposed as a passer than at any other point in his career .
For the first five games , the Seahawks offensive line was exceptional at keeping Wilson protected enough for Seattle ’ s quarterback to get off to one of the best starts in league history .
But since a Week 7 loss to Arizona , Wilson has been under increasing pressure .
He ’ s been sacked 15 times over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past two weeks .
The six sacks last week by the Los Angeles Rams were the most of Wilson since last season against Philadelphia .
Now , here come the Cardinals again on Thursday night , with their array of unique blitzes that caused confusion and problems the first time the teams met .
“ We just got to be a little bit cleaner , ” Wilson said .
“ It sounds kind of crazy , but it ’ s true , every play dictates itself .
And what we ’ ve got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be clean in those moments .
We ’ ve got to be a little crisper , myself included , all of us .
We ’ ve got to be on our stuff.
” Wilson was sacked only twice by the Cardinals in their first meeting and threw for 388 yards and three touchdowns in 37-34 overtime loss .
But he was hit nine times by Arizona , starting a stretch where Wilson has been continually under duress and struggled to protect the ball .
He ’ s been responsible for 10 turnovers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three interceptions against Arizona .
Arizona ’ s success getting to Wilson didn ’ t come until the second half and overtime when a variety of different blitz packages and coverages seemed to catch Seattle off guard .
“ They do a great job of mixing all the different guys who pressure and they change their packages so much .
… They ’ re one of the best in football , ” Wilson said .
“ And to be honest with you , I think ( defensive coordinator ) Vance ( Joseph ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game in terms of how he does his pressure packages and all that stuff .
I think for us it ’ s just diagnosing it , being clear , being on the same page , communication wise .
I think that ’ s kind of what happened to us last time.
” Continuity would help Seattle ’ s protection of Wilson , and that ’ s been lacking in recent weeks .
The Seahawks have been without running backs Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde , both solid in pass protection .
Left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of lineup , and center Ethan Pocic missed last week with a concussion .
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said they know there will be more pressures coming on Thursday against the Cardinals .
“ People see a blitz , and they ’ re like , ‘ That ’ s pretty cool , they got a free runner on the quarterback , let ’ s take a look at that one , ’ ” Schottenheimer said .
“ So you do see some teams repeating things that maybe we haven ’ t handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down to the protection unit just working together , making the calls , communicating things really well , and that ’ s where we ’ ve been up and down .
”

RENTON, Wash. — With all the yards and touchdowns he’s thrown for this season, Seattle’s Russell Wilson has been more exposed as a passer than at any other point in his career.
For the first five games, the Seahawks offensive line was exceptional at keeping Wilson protected enough for Seattle’s quarterback to get off to one of the best starts in league history.
But since a Week 7 loss to Arizona, Wilson has been under increasing pressure. He’s been sacked 15 times over the past four games, including 11 in the past two weeks. The six sacks last week by the Los Angeles Rams were the most of Wilson since last season against Philadelphia.
Now, here come the Cardinals again on Thursday night, with their array of unique blitzes that caused confusion and problems the first time the teams met.
“We just got to be a little bit cleaner,” Wilson said. “It sounds kind of crazy, but it’s true, every play dictates itself. And what we’ve got to do is we just got to be clean in those moments. We’ve got to be a little crisper, myself included, all of us. We’ve got to be on our stuff.”
Wilson was sacked only twice by the Cardinals in their first meeting and threw for 388 yards and three touchdowns in 37-34 overtime loss. But he was hit nine times by Arizona, starting a stretch where Wilson has been continually under duress and struggled to protect the ball. He’s been responsible for 10 turnovers in the past four games, beginning with three interceptions against Arizona.
Arizona’s success getting to Wilson didn’t come until the second half and overtime when a variety of different blitz packages and coverages seemed to catch Seattle off guard.
“They do a great job of mixing all the different guys who pressure and they change their packages so much. … They’re one of the best in football,” Wilson said. “And to be honest with you, I think (defensive coordinator) Vance (Joseph) is one of the best coaches in the game in terms of how he does his pressure packages and all that stuff. I think for us it’s just diagnosing it, being clear, being on the same page, communication wise. I think that’s kind of what happened to us last time.”
Continuity would help Seattle’s protection of Wilson, and that’s been lacking in recent weeks. The Seahawks have been without running backs Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde, both solid in pass protection. Left guard Mike Iupati has been in and out of lineup, and center Ethan Pocic missed last week with a concussion.
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said they know there will be more pressures coming on Thursday against the Cardinals.
“People see a blitz, and they’re like, ‘That’s pretty cool, they got a free runner on the quarterback, let’s take a look at that one,’” Schottenheimer said. “So you do see some teams repeating things that maybe we haven’t handled really well. But it ultimately comes down to the protection unit just working together, making the calls, communicating things really well, and that’s where we’ve been up and down.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Josh McCown fulfills 19-year-old wish to join Texans

HOUSTON — In 2002 , the Houston Texans were an expansion team preparing for their first season and Josh McCown had just wrapped up his college career at nearby Sam Houston State .
Back then the Texas native longed to play for the new franchise , but he was drafted by Arizona instead .
Nineteen seasons and nine teams later , the quarterback finally got his wish when he signed with the Texans this month to be their third quarterback behind Deshaun Watson and AJ McCarron .
“ Going back to pre-draft and everything that went on ( in 2002 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was another team in Texas , ” McCown said .
“ The desire to come here was strong .
Things just work out funny , but to be here 19 , almost 20 years later is crazy.
” McCown joins the Texans after spending the early part of the season on the Eagles practice squad , a job that allowed him to stay at his home in Texas because of the pandemic instead of reporting to Philadelphia .
He last appeared in a game in January when he took over for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17-9 playoff loss to Seattle .
Interim coach Romeo Crennel liked the idea of adding someone with McCown ’ s resume to his roster in a season where the pandemic has the potential to knock players out at any time .
“ If we lose a quarterback to the virus , now then we have a proven , experienced guy in the on-deck circle or in the bullpen so that we can pull from that guy , ” Crennel said .
“ He has a tremendous amount of experience .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Since McCown has been in the NFL since the Texans became a team , it ’ s no surprise that at 41 he ’ s by far the oldest player on the team .
He ’ s seven years older than Houston ’ s second-oldest players , long snapper Jon Weeks and tight end Darren Fells .
His advanced age has had some players poking fun at him since he joined the team .
“ He ’ s been around for a long time , he ’ s prehistoric essentially , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s awesome to have him in the building , also to bring his wealth of knowledge to the quarterback room.
” McCown doesn ’ t remember anyone referring to him as prehistoric before , but doesn ’ t mind the good-natured ribbing from his teammates .
“ It comes with the territory , ” he said .
“ When you have the good fortune of playing this long , I guess it ’ s a blessing to be made fun of for that reason .
Maybe if it was a little less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a little bit better story.
” McCown spent last season with the Eagles after playing the previous two seasons for the Jets .
He spent four seasons with the Cardinals after they drafted him in the third round and has also played for the Lions , Raiders , Panthers , Bears , Buccaneers and Browns .
He ’ s played 102 games and thrown for 17,731 yards and 98 touchdowns in his career .
While he still has the desire to play , McCown said a bonus of joining the Texans is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share his knowledge of the game with the 25-year-old .
“ Any way I can serve and help a young quarterback like Deshaun continue to do what he ’ s doing , that ’ s the icing on the cake , ” he said .
“ That ’ s what I want to get out of this .
Just to be a part of an organization , be a part of something , a group of guys coming together to accomplish something.
” And although he ’ s been in the NFL since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school , he still believes he could play effectively if called upon .
His duties as a father have helped keep him in shape as he ’ s aged .
“ I still feel like I ’ m throwing it the same way , ” he said .
“ My two sons are 10th and 11th grade high school quarterbacks , so there ’ s really not a time throughout the calendar year that we ’ re not throwing the football .
That ’ s served me because it keeps me around and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was growing up he figured he ’ d end up coaching high school football in his home state if he didn ’ t make it to the NFL .
After he was drafted , he put the old dream of coaching on the backburner .
But now that his playing career is winding down , he ’ s started thinking about the possibility of coaching in the NFL .
“ The longer I ’ ve been in this game and been around these guys , I see real value in being able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compete at the highest level , ” he said .
“ So… whenever I finally take the cleats off , I definitely see that in the future .
”

HOUSTON — In 2002, the Houston Texans were an expansion team preparing for their first season and Josh McCown had just wrapped up his college career at nearby Sam Houston State.
Back then the Texas native longed to play for the new franchise, but he was drafted by Arizona instead.
Nineteen seasons and nine teams later, the quarterback finally got his wish when he signed with the Texans this month to be their third quarterback behind Deshaun Watson and AJ McCarron.
“Going back to pre-draft and everything that went on (in 2002) … I followed it closely because it was another team in Texas,” McCown said. “The desire to come here was strong. Things just work out funny, but to be here 19, almost 20 years later is crazy.”
McCown joins the Texans after spending the early part of the season on the Eagles practice squad, a job that allowed him to stay at his home in Texas because of the pandemic instead of reporting to Philadelphia.
He last appeared in a game in January when he took over for an injured Carson Wentz in Philadelphia’s 17-9 playoff loss to Seattle.
Interim coach Romeo Crennel liked the idea of adding someone with McCown’s resume to his roster in a season where the pandemic has the potential to knock players out at any time.
“If we lose a quarterback to the virus, now then we have a proven, experienced guy in the on-deck circle or in the bullpen so that we can pull from that guy,” Crennel said. “He has a tremendous amount of experience. He’s seen a lot, done a lot.”
Since McCown has been in the NFL since the Texans became a team, it’s no surprise that at 41 he’s by far the oldest player on the team. He’s seven years older than Houston’s second-oldest players, long snapper Jon Weeks and tight end Darren Fells.
His advanced age has had some players poking fun at him since he joined the team.
“He’s been around for a long time, he’s prehistoric essentially,” linebacker Whitney Mercilus said. “It’s awesome to have him in the building, also to bring his wealth of knowledge to the quarterback room.”
McCown doesn’t remember anyone referring to him as prehistoric before, but doesn’t mind the good-natured ribbing from his teammates.
“It comes with the territory,” he said. “When you have the good fortune of playing this long, I guess it’s a blessing to be made fun of for that reason. Maybe if it was a little less stops along the way, it would be a little bit better story.”
McCown spent last season with the Eagles after playing the previous two seasons for the Jets. He spent four seasons with the Cardinals after they drafted him in the third round and has also played for the Lions, Raiders, Panthers, Bears, Buccaneers and Browns.
He’s played 102 games and thrown for 17,731 yards and 98 touchdowns in his career.
While he still has the desire to play, McCown said a bonus of joining the Texans is the chance to work with Watson and share his knowledge of the game with the 25-year-old.
“Any way I can serve and help a young quarterback like Deshaun continue to do what he’s doing, that’s the icing on the cake,” he said. “That’s what I want to get out of this. Just to be a part of an organization, be a part of something, a group of guys coming together to accomplish something.”
And although he’s been in the NFL since most of his teammates were in elementary school, he still believes he could play effectively if called upon. His duties as a father have helped keep him in shape as he’s aged.
“I still feel like I’m throwing it the same way,” he said. “My two sons are 10th and 11th grade high school quarterbacks, so there’s really not a time throughout the calendar year that we’re not throwing the football. That’s served me because it keeps me around and keeps the arm loose.”
When McCown was growing up he figured he’d end up coaching high school football in his home state if he didn’t make it to the NFL. After he was drafted, he put the old dream of coaching on the backburner. But now that his playing career is winding down, he’s started thinking about the possibility of coaching in the NFL.
“The longer I’ve been in this game and been around these guys, I see real value in being able to be a part of an organization and compete at the highest level,” he said. “So… whenever I finally take the cleats off, I definitely see that in the future.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Knicks’ Obi Toppin pick draws all kinds of Twitter reactions

An emotional Obi Toppin , a Brooklyn native , was thrilled about being picked by the Knicks with the No @ @ @ @ @ 2020 NBA Draft on Wednesday night .
The 6-foot-9 Toppin was the National Player of @ @ @ @ @ a standout season at Dayton .
The 22-year-old averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds for @ @ @ @ @ the spotlight and up draft boards .
Many pre-draft prognosticators thought Toppin might be picked @ @ @ @ @ particularly to the Cavaliers at No .
5 , but he fell to the Knicks @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t met with universal love on Twitter .
Stephen A. Smith tried his @ @ @ @ @ Here ’ s are some of the reactions :

An emotional Obi Toppin, a Brooklyn native, was thrilled about being picked by the Knicks with the No. 8 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft on Wednesday night.
The 6-foot-9 Toppin was the National Player of the Year in 2020 after a standout season at Dayton. The 22-year-old averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Flyers while vaulting into the spotlight and up draft boards.
Many pre-draft prognosticators thought Toppin might be picked higher in the draft, particularly to the Cavaliers at No. 5, but he fell to the Knicks.
Nevertheless, the pick wasn’t met with universal love on Twitter. Stephen A. Smith tried his best to like it.
Here are some of the reactions:


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Bobby Brown’s son, Bobby Brown Jr., dead at 28

The younger Bobby was born to Brown and Kim Ward , with whom Brown had an 11-year off-and-on relationship .
TMZ , who reported the news Wednesday evening , says that while police are still at Brown ’ s LA-area home , foul play is not suspected .
Ward gave birth to Brown Jr. , the second of her two children with Brown — whom she had known since they were children — less than a year before Brown and Whitney Houston had their daughter Bobbi Kristina .
In a 2016 interview with Boston Magazine , Ward claimed that Houston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Bobbi spend time with Brown and Ward ’ s older child , La ’ Princia , saying “ [ Houston ] has a problem with little Bobby.
” Ward and Brown ’ s relationship was fraught before the deaths of Houston and Bobbi Kristina .
In 2007 , he was jailed over delinquent child-support payments to Ward , eventually being freed when a DC-area radio station paid his debt .
Three days after Bobbi Kristina ’ s death in 2015 , Bobby Jr. , also an aspiring musician , spoke out on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
“ People really don ’ t give a f–k about you unless you ’ re relevant , ” he wrote in a since-deleted thread , “ and they don ’ t love you till you ’ re famous or gone .
I don ’ t want these follows .
Your follows ain ’ t gon na fill the hole in my heart , and y ’ all gon unfollow me once you stop caring .
”

Bobby Brown’s 28-year-old son, Bobby Brown Jr., has died.
Brown Jr. was found dead at his Los Angeles-area home Wednesday, according to TMZ. Foul play was not suspected, the outlet reported.
The younger Bobby was the son of Brown, 51, and Kim Ward, with whom Brown had an 11-year off-and-on relationship.
The loss is another tragedy for the New Edition star, who lost 22-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown in 2015, three years after her mother, Whitney Houston, was found dead in a hotel bathtub.
Bobbi Kristina’s ex-fiancé Nick Gordon, who was found legally responsible for his former partner’s death, also died earlier this year.
Three days after his sister’s death, Brown Jr., also an aspiring musician, spoke out on Twitter about people who flocked to follow him.
“People really don’t give a f–k about you unless you’re relevant,” he wrote in a since-deleted thread, “and they don’t love you till you’re famous or gone. I don’t want these follows. Your follows ain’t gonna fill the hole in my heart, and y’all gon unfollow me once you stop caring.”
Ward gave birth to Brown Jr., the second of her two children with Brown — whom she had known since they were children — less than a year before Brown and Houston had their daughter, Bobbi Kristina. In a 2016 interview with Boston Magazine, Ward claimed that Houston never warmed to the boy and preferred that Bobbi spend time with Brown and Ward’s older child, La’Princia, saying, “[Houston] has a problem with little Bobby.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-18--Injured Sam Darnold should be back this season for Jets

Sam Darnold won ’ t play Sunday , but Jets coach Adam Gase expects to see the quarterback on the field again this season .
“ Hopefully he gets better sooner than later , but I expect him to be back at some point , ” Gase said Wednesday .
“ I don ’ t know when it is , but I talked to him yesterday and I think he ’ s feeling better , he ’ s getting stronger .
I think we just want to make sure he ’ s healthy when we get him out there.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has caused him to miss three games already .
With the Jets at 0-9 and his future with the team cloudy , there is some question about whether it would be smart to just shut Darnold down for the rest of the season .
“ If I said that to him , I don ’ t know if that would go over very well , ” Gase said .
“ He wants to play .
Last week when he tried to make some of the throws that he went to make and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it the way he wanted to , I think that was something where that ’ s what caused us especially to pull back because he was not feeling like he was able to control the ball the way he wanted to , throw with the velocity he wanted to .
“ I ’ m not getting that feeling from him or anyone else that he shouldn ’ t play the rest of the year .
We want him to get out there , his teammates want him to be out there and everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like when we have the starting receivers , starting offensive line , him out there .
Let ’ s see what we can do when we get all those pieces out there.
” Rookie LT Mekhi Becton had to exit the Jets ’ loss to the Patriots early because he was having trouble breathing .
The team was unsure what caused the issue , but Becton said Wednesday that it was just the lingering effects of a cold .
“ I was coming off a cold and my chest was still congested from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not a huge problem .
It ’ s not going to be a future problem .
It was just that one time and that one time only.
” At the time , Becton was unsure what it was .
“ I definitely was nervous because I didn ’ t know what was going on , ” Becton said .
“ Once I figured it out , I ’ m good now.
” Becton said he knew it was not COVID-19 because he is tested every day .
Darnold ( shoulder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and LB Blake Cashman ( hamstrings ) did not practice Wednesday .
Gase said he expects Anderson to return to practice Thursday .
… WR Breshad Perriman ( shoulder ) , K Sam Ficken ( groin ) and DL Quinnen Williams ( hamstring ) were limited .
… The team activated LB Patrick Onuwasor off of IR and designated OLB Frankie Luvu to return to practice from IR .

Sam Darnold won’t play Sunday, but Jets coach Adam Gase expects to see the quarterback on the field again this season.
“Hopefully he gets better sooner than later, but I expect him to be back at some point,” Gase said Wednesday. “I don’t know when it is, but I talked to him yesterday and I think he’s feeling better, he’s getting stronger. I think we just want to make sure he’s healthy when we get him out there.”
Darnold is suffering from a shoulder sprain that has caused him to miss three games already. With the Jets at 0-9 and his future with the team cloudy, there is some question about whether it would be smart to just shut Darnold down for the rest of the season.
“If I said that to him, I don’t know if that would go over very well,” Gase said. “He wants to play. Last week when he tried to make some of the throws that he went to make and he wasn’t able to do it the way he wanted to, I think that was something where that’s what caused us especially to pull back because he was not feeling like he was able to control the ball the way he wanted to, throw with the velocity he wanted to.
“I’m not getting that feeling from him or anyone else that he shouldn’t play the rest of the year. We want him to get out there, his teammates want him to be out there and everybody wants to see what it can look like when we have the starting receivers, starting offensive line, him out there. Let’s see what we can do when we get all those pieces out there.”
Rookie LT Mekhi Becton had to exit the Jets’ loss to the Patriots early because he was having trouble breathing. The team was unsure what caused the issue, but Becton said Wednesday that it was just the lingering effects of a cold.
“I was coming off a cold and my chest was still congested from that,” Becton said. “It’s not a huge problem. It’s not going to be a future problem. It was just that one time and that one time only.”
At the time, Becton was unsure what it was.
“I definitely was nervous because I didn’t know what was going on,” Becton said. “Once I figured it out, I’m good now.”
Becton said he knew it was not COVID-19 because he is tested every day.
Darnold (shoulder), DL Henry Anderson (knee/ankle) and LB Blake Cashman (hamstrings) did not practice Wednesday. Gase said he expects Anderson to return to practice Thursday. … WR Breshad Perriman (shoulder), K Sam Ficken (groin) and DL Quinnen Williams (hamstring) were limited. … The team activated LB Patrick Onuwasor off of IR and designated OLB Frankie Luvu to return to practice from IR.