newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Washington state traps its first murder hornet

Murder hornets have resurfaced in Washington state and appear to ...

Just when you thought they were gone… they came buzzing back in.
Washington has finally managed to trap its first live murder hornet — months after the invasive species was first spotted in the state, officials announced Friday.
The jumbo stinger was captured in a bottle trap near Birch Bay on July 14 and identified earlier this week as an Asian giant hornet, the Washington State Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
“This is encouraging because it means we know that the traps work,” Sven Spichiger, managing entomologist for the department said. “But it also means we have work to do.”
Now, scientists are racing against the clock. They will need to tag as many live hornets as possible and then follow them home to find the rest of the colony.
The plan is to eradicate the colonies before the hornets begin to mate and reproduce in mid-September.
“Destroying the nest before new queens emerge and mate will prevent the spread of this invasive pest,” the agency said.
The invasive insect, which can grow up to 2 inches long, are a threat to honey bees — which they can decapitate in seconds. during mass attacks on hives.
While a sting to humans isn’t usually fatal, the host of an extreme nature show described being stung as “Searing pain! Absolute searing pain!” Japan attributes 50 human deaths a year to the nasty buzzers.
Scientists aren’t sure how the the world’s largest hornet, which is native to Asia, ended up in Washington State.
It was first spotted there late last year, and and there have been at least five sightings.
Officials have since set over 1,300 traps in their hunt for hornets, and they’ll now also use infrared cameras and place additional traps in order to catch the the insects alive.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Connecticut unveils plans for shortened high school sports season

The governing body of high school sports in Connecticut publicly released its plans for restarting interscholastic sports this fall , proposing a shortened season that officials said will be “ fluid ” based on changing COVID-19 health metrics .
The plan from CAS-CIAC , the Connecticut Association of Schools and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference , was crafted in consultation with state education officials , the Connecticut State Medical Society , various athletic and coaching organizations , school principals and others .
“ Everyone involved in the development of the plan recognizes that it must remain fluid , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of evaluation as COVID data and health metrics become available , ” according to a statement posted on CAS-CIAC ’ s website .
The start of the fall sports season will be Sept. 24 , the first contest date .
Before that , first practices will be held in cohorts of 15 student-athletes , beginning on Aug. 27 for cross country , field hockey , soccer , swimming and volleyball and on Aug. 17 for football .
Full practices won ’ t begin before Sept. 11 .
Several weeks of pre-conditioning before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The maximum number of regular season games will be limited to 12 for cross country , field hockey , soccer , swimming and volleyball and six for football .
All the games will be scheduled regionally to limit transportation and to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus across the state .
There will be restrictions on spectators and specific rules for certain sports , such as volleyball teams not switching sides after each set and teams not meeting in locker rooms at halftime .
The organization is also working on a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks of the fall season .
“ No team will be eliminated from competition during this experience to maximize the number of games each team will be able to play through the fall season , ” according to the plan .
During Gov .
Ned Lamont ’ s coronavirus briefing with reporters on Thursday , Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel from the University of Pennsylvania , an oncologist and former White House health advisor , said he didn ’ t think high school football or “ contact sports of any type ” should be played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up something that is a crucial part of your life , ” said Emanuel , who was a swimmer in school .
“ But we do need to be safe and put safety number one .
And I think contact sports are not good idea.
” Emanuel said professional sports leagues are trying to quarantine teams in “ bubbles ” to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , he said that would not be practical for high school athletes , given transportation and other complications .
“ I think for one year we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a miss on it , ” he said .
Lamont said Friday he hopes the local sports organizations “ take to heart ” Emanuel ’ s warnings as they continue to plan for the resumption of fall sports .
In other coronavirus news in Connecticut : Connecticut on Friday neared 50,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic first hit the state .
Lamont ’ s administration announced there have been 49,810 , an increase of 140 since Thursday .
However , the rate of infection still remains about 1 % , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been 4,432 COVID-associated deaths , an increase of one person since Thursday .
The number of hospitalizations climbed by three , to a total of 69 .
Lamont said he is concerned about house parties and large gatherings , especially involving young people , urging them Friday to remain vigilant , social distance and wear masks .
Officials at Foodshare , a regional food bank in the Hartford , have seen an increase in the number of cars arriving at food pick-up locations , such as Rentschler Field in East Hartford , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Hartford Courant reported Friday there were 1,000 cars that went through the line for donations on April 20 , when Foodshare began its daily food distribution at the stadium .
The numbers grew to about 1,500 and later leveled off at about 1,300 until a couple weeks ago .
There were 1,858 cars in line on Wednesday and 1,730 on Thursday .
“ There are a lot of people freaking out , ” Foodshare Logistics Manager Dom Piccini told the Courant .
That ’ s why the last two weeks have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wall .
”

The governing body of high school sports in Connecticut publicly released its plans for restarting interscholastic sports this fall, proposing a shortened season that officials said will be “fluid” based on changing COVID-19 health metrics.
The plan from CAS-CIAC, the Connecticut Association of Schools and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, was crafted in consultation with state education officials, the Connecticut State Medical Society, various athletic and coaching organizations, school principals and others.
“Everyone involved in the development of the plan recognizes that it must remain fluid, and that it will be in a perpetual state of evaluation as COVID data and health metrics become available,” according to a statement posted on CAS-CIAC’s website.
The start of the fall sports season will be Sept. 24, the first contest date. Before that, first practices will be held in cohorts of 15 student-athletes, beginning on Aug. 27 for cross country, field hockey, soccer, swimming and volleyball and on Aug. 17 for football. Full practices won’t begin before Sept. 11.
Several weeks of pre-conditioning before the first practices will also be allowed.
The maximum number of regular season games will be limited to 12 for cross country, field hockey, soccer, swimming and volleyball and six for football. All the games will be scheduled regionally to limit transportation and to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus across the state. There will be restrictions on spectators and specific rules for certain sports, such as volleyball teams not switching sides after each set and teams not meeting in locker rooms at halftime.
The organization is also working on a “tournament experience” during the final two weeks of the fall season.
“No team will be eliminated from competition during this experience to maximize the number of games each team will be able to play through the fall season,” according to the plan.
During Gov. Ned Lamont’s coronavirus briefing with reporters on Thursday, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel from the University of Pennsylvania, an oncologist and former White House health advisor, said he didn’t think high school football or “contact sports of any type” should be played this fall.
“I understand giving up something that is a crucial part of your life,” said Emanuel, who was a swimmer in school. “But we do need to be safe and put safety number one. And I think contact sports are not good idea.”
Emanuel said professional sports leagues are trying to quarantine teams in “bubbles” to prevent the spread of COVID-19, he said that would not be practical for high school athletes, given transportation and other complications.
“I think for one year we’re probably going to have to take a miss on it,” he said.
Lamont said Friday he hopes the local sports organizations “take to heart” Emanuel’s warnings as they continue to plan for the resumption of fall sports.
In other coronavirus news in Connecticut:
By the numbers
Connecticut on Friday neared 50,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic first hit the state. Lamont’s administration announced there have been 49,810, an increase of 140 since Thursday. However, the rate of infection still remains about 1%, the governor said.
To date, there have been 4,432 COVID-associated deaths, an increase of one person since Thursday. The number of hospitalizations climbed by three, to a total of 69. Lamont said he is concerned about house parties and large gatherings, especially involving young people, urging them Friday to remain vigilant, social distance and wear masks.
Food insecurity
Officials at Foodshare, a regional food bank in the Hartford, have seen an increase in the number of cars arriving at food pick-up locations, such as Rentschler Field in East Hartford, as the extra federal unemployment benefits expire.
The Hartford Courant reported Friday there were 1,000 cars that went through the line for donations on April 20, when Foodshare began its daily food distribution at the stadium. The numbers grew to about 1,500 and later leveled off at about 1,300 until a couple weeks ago. There were 1,858 cars in line on Wednesday and 1,730 on Thursday.
“There are a lot of people freaking out,” Foodshare Logistics Manager Dom Piccini told the Courant. That’s why the last two weeks have spiked. People see the writing on the wall.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--‘Black-ish’ star Marsai Martin getting a ‘Tiny Talk Show’ on Quibi

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Fifteen-year-old “ Black-ish ” star @ @ @ @ @ own mini talk show on short-form streaming service Quibi , Deadline reported .
According to @ @ @ @ @ for “ Tiny Talk Show ” will be one-sixth the size of a normal talk @ @ @ @ @ ll be produced by Genius Entertainment , which Martin runs with her parents .
She @ @ @ @ @ executive producer , for the 2019 film “ Little , ” which she appeared in @ @ @ @ @ Rae .

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Fifteen-year-old “Black-ish” star Marsai Martin is getting her own mini talk show on short-form streaming service Quibi, Deadline reported.
According to the site, the set for “Tiny Talk Show” will be one-sixth the size of a normal talk show set. It’ll be produced by Genius Entertainment, which Martin runs with her parents.
She’s already been an executive producer, for the 2019 film “Little,” which she appeared in alongside Regina Hall and Issa Rae.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--‘Peaceful protests’ prompt new lows in media misconduct

Half of America ’ s likely voters believe political leaders in some ...

‘Protesters in California,” tweeted ABC News about an incident in Oakland, “set fire to a courthouse, damaged a police station and assaulted officers after a peaceful demonstration intensified.”
If you’d presented your ninth-grade teacher with that sentence, she might have taken out her red pen and asked you, “How does a peaceful demonstration intensify?” This sentence, however, was written not by a ninth-grader, but by an adult, a professional journalist.
It wasn’t an accident.
Any “peaceful demonstration” capable of “intensifying” into setting fire to a courthouse, damaging a police station and assaulting law enforcement was never really “peaceful” in the first place.
As Post contributor Roger Kimball wrote, “the overriding criterion for choosing which narrative to plug” is which “will do the most damage to Donald Trump and Republican prospects in the November election.” The narrative that serves that purpose is that the demonstrations that broke out after the May 25 death of George Floyd are peaceful, and the demands of many demonstrators to “defund” the police are reasonable.
The media describe as peaceful urban conflagrations that have continued for more than 60 days in cities such as Oakland, Portland and Seattle. Setting fires in federal buildings, aiming blinding lasers and shooting pellet guns at law enforcement are to be ignored or characterized as, in House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler’s words, “a myth.”
In that spirit, committee members questioning Attorney General William Barr declined his invitation to condemn violent attacks on federal courthouses and to endorse federal-law-enforcement attempts to defend them.
Major journalistic organizations seem uninterested in learning just who the mostly white and mask-clad violent protesters are or whether they are part of an organized antifa network.
It’s interesting, as well, that journalists sympathetic to the Black Lives Matter movement seem either puzzled by or blithely ignorant of the sharp rise in post-May 25 homicides in cities ranging from New York to Chicago to Minneapolis to Milwaukee to Denver to Los Angeles.
It’s the fastest rise in murder rates since the late 1960s.
Democrats and journalists have struggled to explain the spike. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, fresh from “Les Mis,” suspects fathers are stealing to feed their children. The New York Times indicts summer heat waves.
They resist the obvious explanation: Less policing, plus lighter punishment and delegitimizing law enforcement, yields more violent crime. Almost all the extra victims, including children, are minorities in underprivileged neighborhoods. Some black lives evidently don’t matter so much.
Rampant criminality isn’t a story most journalists want to touch. Falling in the same category is the continued unraveling of the Russia-collusion hoax. The theory that the president was in cahoots with Russia was rendered “inoperative” (to borrow a word from the Watergate era) by Robert Mueller and his report last year.
Now comes information that former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden were kept aware of FBI spying on Trump and his campaign, supposedly justified by the Clinton campaign-financed Steele memorandum. Now it turns out that the supposed Russia expert who was Steele’s primary source was a DC-based bibulous operative connected with the Brookings Institution.
Thus, media outlets that couldn’t produce enough Russia-collusion stories suddenly have no interest in the subject now that their conspiracy theory has been debunked. They evidently have zero interest in the Obama administration’s violation of the American norms of refraining from using legal and intelligence agencies against political opponents and of accepting election results.
That’s “willful blindness” and “deliberately ignoring the facts,” says law professor Jonathan Turley. In the process of exaggerating Trump’s departures from norms and ignoring those of Trump’s opponents, much of the media is doing a good job of tearing down American norms themselves — a case, perhaps, of peaceful demonstration intensifying.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Connecticut firefighter delivers baby on first overnight shift

NEW HAVEN , Conn. — A Connecticut firefighter on her first overnight shift delivered a baby at the home of a family who called for emergency assistance .
A team from the Guilford Fire Department responded to a call around 5:30 a.m. on Monday , and firefighter and paramedic Ashley Vargoshe , 28 , handled the delivery of the baby boy , the New Haven Register reported .
The newspaper could not reach the baby ’ s parents for comment .
Vargoshe of Madison , Connecticut , started with the Guilford Fire Department in July , the department said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paramedic and told the newspaper she was working her first 24-hour shift since starting with the department .
“ There ’ s been a lot of sick people around , so it was kinda nice to do a job that was a joyful experience instead of our usual 911 emergencies , ” Vargoshe said .
Vargoshe is the second woman to work at the Guilford Fire Department since it became a full-time force in 2002 , Capt .
Brian Manware told the newspaper .
“ We like to look at these as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to , ” Manware said .
“ This was one of those good times .
”

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Connecticut firefighter on her first overnight shift delivered a baby at the home of a family who called for emergency assistance.
A team from the Guilford Fire Department responded to a call around 5:30 a.m. on Monday, and firefighter and paramedic Ashley Vargoshe, 28, handled the delivery of the baby boy, the New Haven Register reported.
The newspaper could not reach the baby’s parents for comment.
Vargoshe of Madison, Connecticut, started with the Guilford Fire Department in July, the department said on its website. She is a licensed paramedic and told the newspaper she was working her first 24-hour shift since starting with the department.
“There’s been a lot of sick people around, so it was kinda nice to do a job that was a joyful experience instead of our usual 911 emergencies,” Vargoshe said.
Vargoshe is the second woman to work at the Guilford Fire Department since it became a full-time force in 2002, Capt. Brian Manware told the newspaper.
“We like to look at these as one of the positive calls that we get to go to,” Manware said. “This was one of those good times.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--NYC’s pandemic program bug problem

NYC’s pandemic program bug problem

We ’ d have more hope that school reopening will come off if other city pandemic programs were showing fewer bugs .
The much-heralded GetFoodNYC saw at least two black eyes this week : On Monday , 34 unopened boxes of meals turned up on the side of a Queens underpass .
The resident who spotted them called 311 and was told they ’ d be picked up , but more than eight hours later they were still lying there .
That news prompted a Brooklyn woman to alert The Post that four to five boxes of unwanted meals a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home since May , despite many calls to 311 .
Our coverage apparently got the error fixed — but how many other mis-delivered meals have gone to waste ?
More troubling is a New York Times account of the beyond-rocky start to the city ’ s contact-tracing program .
On private message boards , newly hired contact tracers shared serious worries .
One wrote , “ I don ’ t think this is the type of job we should just ‘ wing it , ’ and that ’ s the sense I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The lack of communication and organization is crazy.
” But the worst problems came in the first six weeks , and the program ’ s now two months old .
“ All signs indicate that the program has been effective in helping the city avoid the resurgence we ’ re seeing in other states , ” says mayoral spokeswoman Avery Cohen .
As ever with City Hall , it ’ s : Cross your fingers , and hope they get it right in time .

We’d have more hope that school reopening will come off if other city pandemic programs were showing fewer bugs.
The much-heralded GetFoodNYC saw at least two black eyes this week: On Monday, 34 unopened boxes of meals turned up on the side of a Queens underpass. The resident who spotted them called 311 and was told they’d be picked up, but more than eight hours later they were still lying there.
That news prompted a Brooklyn woman to alert The Post that four to five boxes of unwanted meals a week have been showing up at her home since May, despite many calls to 311. Our coverage apparently got the error fixed — but how many other mis-delivered meals have gone to waste?
More troubling is a New York Times account of the beyond-rocky start to the city’s contact-tracing program. On private message boards, newly hired contact tracers shared serious worries. One wrote, “I don’t think this is the type of job we should just ‘wing it,’ and that’s the sense I’ve been getting sometimes.” Another: “The lack of communication and organization is crazy.”
But the worst problems came in the first six weeks, and the program’s now two months old. “All signs indicate that the program has been effective in helping the city avoid the resurgence we’re seeing in other states,” says mayoral spokeswoman Avery Cohen.
As ever with City Hall, it’s: Cross your fingers, and hope they get it right in time.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Boston Marathon bomber ruling is ‘ridiculous’, says survivor who lost leg in attack

An appellate court has tossed the death sentence and overturned ...

A man who lost his leg in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing ripped the decision of an appellate court Friday to toss the the death sentence and overturn three of the convictions of terrorist Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
“It’s ridiculous,” Marc Fucarile said when asked about the ruling on the local Boston WEEI radio show “Ordway, Merloni and Fauria.”
Fucarile — who lost his right leg during the second of two finish-line explosions that killed three and left more than 260 wounded in April 2013 — said the case should be clear cut.
“The guy did this. Put him to rest,” Fucarile said of Tsarnaev, 27, who will now receive a new penalty-phase trial to decide whether he should be executed over the bombings.
“It really is that simple and anybody who says ‘no its not that simple …’ No. It is,” Fucarile continued. “He did this, he said he did this to all these people. Put him to rest, bury him, put him under the jail.”
The decision not only affects all of the bombing victims, but their families as well, Fucarile said.
“Its not fair to these people and the family members.”
Fucarile described how his 12-year-old son, who was 5 at the time of the attacks, will sometimes burst into tears when thinking about the injuries his father sustained.
“My son cries out of nowhere sometimes [and says] ‘I want him dead … the guy that hurt you … he screwed up your life. He changed you.'”
“I said ‘Gavin, I’m not changed buddy … [but] the pain I’m in all the time, it limits my patience and I work on that, I try,” Fucarile said.
Fucarile’s own father is “beside himself.”
“Not being able to protect me. If someone hurts your kid, your family, you want him dead …,” he said.
“And all these people are doing to protect [Tsarnaev]. It’s a joke.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Suburban NYC jail guards accused of mistreating female inmates

NEW CITY , N.Y. — Two jail guards in the New York City suburbs were indicted Friday on charges alleging they sexually mistreated non-white female inmates .
Christopher Taggart , 39 , is accused of allowing contraband into the Rockland County Correctional Center and engaging in what prosecutors deemed an “ inappropriate relationship with female minority inmates.
” John Kezek , 35 , is accused of sexually harassment .
Both are charged with multiple counts of official misconduct , a misdemeanor , while Taggart also faces charges of promoting prison contraband , a felony .
Taggart is scheduled to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own recognizance .
Information on Kezek ’ s court date and lawyers who could speak on the men ’ s behalf was not listed in court records .
A telephone number for the county correctional officers ’ union connected instead to the county sheriff ’ s office .
District Attorney Thomas Walsh said prosecutors started looking into the treatment of female inmates after a defense lawyer alerted his office about intimidating and sexually harassment her client was enduring .
“ Far too often , female inmates are not considered to have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are walking the streets , ” Walsh said .
“ We can ’ t allow a systemic issue of female minorities being mistreated in our jails .
”

NEW CITY, N.Y. — Two jail guards in the New York City suburbs were indicted Friday on charges alleging they sexually mistreated non-white female inmates.
Christopher Taggart, 39, is accused of allowing contraband into the Rockland County Correctional Center and engaging in what prosecutors deemed an “inappropriate relationship with female minority inmates.”
John Kezek, 35, is accused of sexually harassment. Both are charged with multiple counts of official misconduct, a misdemeanor, while Taggart also faces charges of promoting prison contraband, a felony.
Taggart is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 11 and remains free on his own recognizance. Information on Kezek’s court date and lawyers who could speak on the men’s behalf was not listed in court records.
A telephone number for the county correctional officers’ union connected instead to the county sheriff’s office.
District Attorney Thomas Walsh said prosecutors started looking into the treatment of female inmates after a defense lawyer alerted his office about intimidating and sexually harassment her client was enduring.
“Far too often, female inmates are not considered to have the same rights as those of us who are walking the streets,” Walsh said. “We can’t allow a systemic issue of female minorities being mistreated in our jails.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Anyone who protests at people’s homes deserves to be defunded

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson says he didn ’ t kill funding for the activist group VOCAL-NY because several of its members and staff targeted his boyfriend ’ s home for a protest , and we have no cause to doubt him .
But it would be ample reason to cut off funds .
Heck , targeting CoJo ’ s own residence , or any decision-maker ’ s , would be enough .
Public officials still have a right to privacy , no matter how sanctimoniously self-righteous their critics may become .
Besieging their homes is an assault on civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applies to the demonstrations on Sen. Chuck Schumer ’ s street and the recent protest at Police Commissioner Dermot Shea ’ s residence .
It ’ s all nothing less than an attempt at mob rule .
Certainly , no one taking a public protest to a private residence should get a dime of taxpayer money .
VOCAL-NY led protests as Johnson negotiated the new city budget , demonstrations that culminated in the Occupy City Hall encampment .
And VOCAL staff joined a march to the home of Johnson ’ s S.O .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the building ( which the boyfriend doesn ’ t own ) and ringing buzzers in the middle of the night .
But there ’ s no clear sign that ’ s why the council axed a previously-OK ’ d $ 2.25 million for VOCAL to buy a new building in Brooklyn : Lots of grants vanished as the city closed its coronavirus-caused $ 9 billion shortfall .
VOCAL claims CoJo has attacked “ our First Amendment rights to speak truth to power ” and threatens to sue .
Good luck .
Nobody has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build political power ” at taxpayer expense — and VOCAL ’ s vile behavior has forfeited any reason to indulge its complaints .

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson says he didn’t kill funding for the activist group VOCAL-NY because several of its members and staff targeted his boyfriend’s home for a protest, and we have no cause to doubt him.
But it would be ample reason to cut off funds. Heck, targeting CoJo’s own residence, or any decision-maker’s, would be enough.
Public officials still have a right to privacy, no matter how sanctimoniously self-righteous their critics may become. Besieging their homes is an assault on civil society and democratic norms.
That also applies to the demonstrations on Sen. Chuck Schumer’s street and the recent protest at Police Commissioner Dermot Shea’s residence. It’s all nothing less than an attempt at mob rule.
Certainly, no one taking a public protest to a private residence should get a dime of taxpayer money.
VOCAL-NY led protests as Johnson negotiated the new city budget, demonstrations that culminated in the Occupy City Hall encampment. And VOCAL staff joined a march to the home of Johnson’s S.O. — a protest that saw vandalism of the building (which the boyfriend doesn’t own) and ringing buzzers in the middle of the night.
Johnson was rightly angry: “He’s not a public figure; I am.”
But there’s no clear sign that’s why the council axed a previously-OK’d $2.25 million for VOCAL to buy a new building in Brooklyn: Lots of grants vanished as the city closed its coronavirus-caused $9 billion shortfall.
VOCAL claims CoJo has attacked “our First Amendment rights to speak truth to power” and threatens to sue. Good luck.
Nobody has a right to “a permanent home to build political power” at taxpayer expense — and VOCAL’s vile behavior has forfeited any reason to indulge its complaints.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Give de Blasio credit for at least trying to reopen NYC schools despite union resistance

The mayor vowed Friday to reopen schools in September as ...

Give Mayor Bill de Blasio some credit: Unlike many other progressive leaders across America, he hasn’t given up on reopening schools this fall.
That’s not to say that the reopening plan he and Chancellor Richard Carranza released Friday is remotely perfect. But they were basically aiming only to meet Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s arbitrary deadline for the city’s scheme to “safely” bring students back in September.
And they gave the gov little reason to quibble (though Cuomo can always find some reason to torture the mayor). For example, schools won’t open if COVID-19 rates go above 3 percent in the city — a standard far more cautious than the experts demand.
But the teachers’ union isn’t sold: United Federation of Teachers chief Mike Mulgrew demands frequent testing of teachers, for starters.
And the normally quiescent principals’ union worries about whether school personnel can really get kids to wear masks for five-plus hours a day. Union head Mark Cannizzaro also questions whether “instructional designs” are sufficiently solid.
The plan has groups of students staying together for the whole school day, so that if a student or teacher tests positive, only their specific classroom need be closed (for two weeks); the building will remain open unless the city’s test-and-trace program reveals a widespread outbreak. Students and staff feeling sick will be sent home.
That’s all entirely reasonable — and evidence that the mayor and chancellor are truly looking for ways to keep schools open, despite enormous resistance from the unions.
Sadly, the plan doesn’t embrace Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ point that children under 10 don’t appear to spread the bug — and so might all come back, with no need for “blended learning” that has at least half of them stuck at home each school day.
We’re not convinced the Department of Education can pull this off, but at least the mayor is trying. He at least understands, along with Centers for Disease Control chief Dr. Robert Redfield, that it’s in the “public health interest” to reopen public schools.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--President Trump takes on the ‘permanent war’ lobby over Germany

Even amid national crisis and deep polarization , there remains one bipartisan establishment pledge : that the US military presence abroad must continue — forever .
Witness the reaction to President Trump ’ s recent decision to redeploy nearly 12,000 troops away from Germany .
“ A serious error , ” warned GOP Rep. Liz Cheney .
Sen. Mitt Romney had a hawkish fit .
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen alleged that only the Kremlin would cheer such a move .
She apparently hasn ’ t examined polls showing a plurality of Germans want the troops gone — and , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 80 percent in some surveys , would prefer Berlin to stay neutral or even side with Russia in a hypothetical US-Russian conflict .
For the permanent-war contingent in Washington , however , America can never , ever militarily disengage from anywhere in the world — never mind popular preferences ( at home and abroad ) , the state of our economy or changing global realities : not least that retired German politicos magnetically gravitate to the boards of Russian energy firms like children to ice cream .
Trump gets this .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the absence of new foreign conflicts that turn into interminable quagmires .
That ’ s been no easy task , considering the militaristic impulses of his predecessors and career national-security staff , who keep a decidedly interventionist thumb on the scales of policy .
Germany tells the story .
Keeping troops in Germany is critical to defend against Russian aggrandizement and protect US national security , we are told .
All old hat when one recalls that the 2004 decision by the Bush administration to reduce troop numbers in Germany was met with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defend Germany from Russian aggression in perpetuity .
Yet Germany has no compunction about tying its energy security to Moscow via the Nordstream 2 pipeline .
The NATO alliance is of paramount importance , we are told , but not such that Germany will ever meet its 2 percent of GDP defense-spending obligation .
As the president astutely put it : “ Germany pays Russia billions of dollars a year for energy , and we are supposed to protect Germany from Russia .
What ’ s that all about ?
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawal process , hoping to kick the can past Election Day .
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper warned that the removal of troops from Germany will cost billions of dollars and take years to complete .
Men who don ’ t blink at dispatching US troops and hardware from the Midwest to Timbuktu suddenly worry about costs when it ’ s time to move our men and women in uniform in the opposite direction .
The establishment ’ s allergy to troop withdrawals isn ’ t just limited to Germany .
Of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains certain : Should talk of Mideast drawdowns attract too much of the president ’ s attention , there is always some pretext to keep boots on the ground .
While regimes in the region cut deals among themselves and invite Russia and China in , we are told that American boots are absolutely essential to guaranteeing the security of .
.
.
various Iranian and Saudi client states .
It ’ s all hardly surprising when one considers the millions of dollars flowing from the defense industry to dozens of influential Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line straight to the presidency has blessed Trump with the unique ability to avoid the decades of glad-handing and grooming by deep-pocketed defense interests ; in interviews , he has acknowledged the influence of the military-industrial complex .
Yet as commander in chief , Trump ultimately acquiesces to troop increases after months of pressure from military advisers or while distracted by one Twitter feud or another , no doubt to the relief of the military-industrial “ adults in the room.
” Most recently , Trump backed off demands for a full troop withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 4,000 troops in the country past Election Day at the request of Pentagon officials and security apparats hoping a pliant team player like Joe Biden takes the reins .
Meanwhile , the home front is economically devastated and riven by social conflict .
Trump ’ s election chances look grim , but one way to assert himself in a popular , winsome way is to press for expeditious withdrawals — while he still can .

Even amid national crisis and deep polarization, there remains one bipartisan establishment pledge: that the US military presence abroad must continue — forever.
Witness the reaction to President Trump’s recent decision to redeploy nearly 12,000 troops away from Germany. “A serious error,” warned GOP Rep. Liz Cheney. Sen. Mitt Romney had a hawkish fit. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen alleged that only the Kremlin would cheer such a move.
She apparently hasn’t examined polls showing a plurality of Germans want the troops gone — and, more tellingly, that the vast majority, nearly 80 percent in some surveys, would prefer Berlin to stay neutral or even side with Russia in a hypothetical US-Russian conflict.
For the permanent-war contingent in Washington, however, America can never, ever militarily disengage from anywhere in the world — never mind popular preferences (at home and abroad), the state of our economy or changing global realities: not least that retired German politicos magnetically gravitate to the boards of Russian energy firms like children to ice cream.
Trump gets this. One bright spot of his administration has been the absence of new foreign conflicts that turn into interminable quagmires. That’s been no easy task, considering the militaristic impulses of his predecessors and career national-security staff, who keep a decidedly interventionist thumb on the scales of policy.
Germany tells the story. Keeping troops in Germany is critical to defend against Russian aggrandizement and protect US national security, we are told. All old hat when one recalls that the 2004 decision by the Bush administration to reduce troop numbers in Germany was met with the same resistance.
Americans are supposed to defend Germany from Russian aggression in perpetuity. Yet Germany has no compunction about tying its energy security to Moscow via the Nordstream 2 pipeline. The NATO alliance is of paramount importance, we are told, but not such that Germany will ever meet its 2 percent of GDP defense-spending obligation.
As the president astutely put it: “Germany pays Russia billions of dollars a year for energy, and we are supposed to protect Germany from Russia. What’s that all about?”
The Pentagon appears ready to slow-walk the German withdrawal process, hoping to kick the can past Election Day. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper warned that the removal of troops from Germany will cost billions of dollars and take years to complete. Men who don’t blink at dispatching US troops and hardware from the Midwest to Timbuktu suddenly worry about costs when it’s time to move our men and women in uniform in the opposite direction.
The establishment’s allergy to troop withdrawals isn’t just limited to Germany.
Of the few constants in Washington, one thing remains certain: Should talk of Mideast drawdowns attract too much of the president’s attention, there is always some pretext to keep boots on the ground. While regimes in the region cut deals among themselves and invite Russia and China in, we are told that American boots are absolutely essential to guaranteeing the security of . . . various Iranian and Saudi client states.
It’s all hardly surprising when one considers the millions of dollars flowing from the defense industry to dozens of influential Washington think tanks and politicians.
Skipping the line straight to the presidency has blessed Trump with the unique ability to avoid the decades of glad-handing and grooming by deep-pocketed defense interests; in interviews, he has acknowledged the influence of the military-industrial complex.
Yet as commander in chief, Trump ultimately acquiesces to troop increases after months of pressure from military advisers or while distracted by one Twitter feud or another, no doubt to the relief of the military-industrial “adults in the room.”
Most recently, Trump backed off demands for a full troop withdrawal from Afghanistan ahead of November, leaving at least 4,000 troops in the country past Election Day at the request of Pentagon officials and security apparats hoping a pliant team player like Joe Biden takes the reins.
Meanwhile, the home front is economically devastated and riven by social conflict. Trump’s election chances look grim, but one way to assert himself in a popular, winsome way is to press for expeditious withdrawals — while he still can.
Allan Richarz is a Tokyo-based writer.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--This is what parents think about NYC’s school reopening plan

Parents greeted the city ’ s school reopening plan with cheers and jeers Friday .
For Sohna Wikman — a 44-year-old marketing consultant with a 13-year-old son at the International School of Brooklyn and an 8-year-old daughter at PS 321 — any fall without a full reopening is a bust , even with the coronavirus still around .
“ I think they should open — it ’ s better for the kids , ’ ’ she said .
“ The school does so much more than teach — it provides a safety net , an insight into how they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to work from home.
” Still , the mom added , “ My heart goes out to the teachers .
They ’ re probably more at risk than our kids are.
” Her son , Caleb , seemed more accepting of online learning , calling it “ the new normal .
“ It was rough in the beginning .
We had some crashes , ’ ’ he said of the city ’ s move to online instruction this past spring in the grip of the pandemic .
“ We just had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter Leah lamented , “ I can ’ t play with my friends in the same way .
And I really like to go out and come to school and see them in person.
’ ’ Mia Huang , 31 , an Upper West Side fashion buyer , said she is keeping her 5-year-old daughter Katherine at home from PS 334 no matter what .
“ I don ’ t want the school reopening , ’ ’ Huang said .
“ I ’ m not sure it ’ s very healthy for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it ’ s very safe , to have all the kids go back to school right now.
” Glenn McAnanama , who is in marketing and also lives on the Upper West Side , has one son , Reid , 9 , who goes to private school , and another son , Finn , who attends public .
The dad said his mind is more at ease over Reid because “ the private school has more space and more staff.
” As for city schools , “ I hope they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing and they ’ re honest with what the data says so everyone can make the best decision , ’ ’ he said .
Brooklyn mom Shauna May , 36 , said she sees the pros and cons to sending her children — 5-year-old son Jordayne and 9-year-old daughter Daeshanel — to school .
“ My concern is they need a classroom environment to learn .
With science , I have that concern , ” said the East Flatbush resident .
“ But “ I ’ m scared for them to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s a good idea .
… Sometimes when [ the kids ] are talking , they push down the masks .
”

Parents greeted the city’s school reopening plan with cheers and jeers Friday.
For Sohna Wikman — a 44-year-old marketing consultant with a 13-year-old son at the International School of Brooklyn and an 8-year-old daughter at PS 321 — any fall without a full reopening is a bust, even with the coronavirus still around.
“I think they should open — it’s better for the kids,’’ she said.
“The school does so much more than teach — it provides a safety net, an insight into how they’re doing and not all families have opportunity to work from home.”
Still, the mom added, “My heart goes out to the teachers. They’re probably more at risk than our kids are.”
Her son, Caleb, seemed more accepting of online learning, calling it “the new normal.
“It was rough in the beginning. We had some crashes,’’ he said of the city’s move to online instruction this past spring in the grip of the pandemic. “We just had to get used to it.”
But her daughter Leah lamented, “I can’t play with my friends in the same way. And I really like to go out and come to school and see them in person.’’
Mia Huang, 31, an Upper West Side fashion buyer , said she is keeping her 5-year-old daughter Katherine at home from PS 334 no matter what.
“I don’t want the school reopening,’’ Huang said. “I’m not sure it’s very healthy for the children.”
“I don’t think it’s very safe, to have all the kids go back to school right now.”
Glenn McAnanama, who is in marketing and also lives on the Upper West Side, has one son, Reid, 9, who goes to private school, and another son, Finn, who attends public.
The dad said his mind is more at ease over Reid because “the private school has more space and more staff.”
As for city schools, “I hope they’re doing a lot of data tracking and testing and they’re honest with what the data says so everyone can make the best decision,’’ he said.
Brooklyn mom Shauna May, 36, said she sees the pros and cons to sending her children — 5-year-old son Jordayne and 9-year-old daughter Daeshanel — to school.
“My concern is they need a classroom environment to learn. With science, I have that concern,” said the East Flatbush resident.
“But “I’m scared for them to go to the classroom and be with other students.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. … Sometimes when [the kids] are talking, they push down the masks.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Obama’s latest outrageous political games a reminder of how he opened door to Trump

Former President Barack Obama on Thursday said it ’ s time to ...

At 8:46 a.m. on Thursday, President Trump issued his wildly irresponsible tweet suggesting the November election be delayed — yet another reminder that Trump is contributing to the breakdown of America’s democratic institutions just when it needs them the most.
Then, only two hours later, we got a reminder of where Trump might have gotten the idea that our democratic institutions don’t deserve respect: from his wildly irresponsible predecessor.
During his eulogy at the funeral of the civil-rights hero John Lewis, Obama called for a degree of norm-shattering in service of the partisan interests of the Democrats that will, quite simply, tear this country asunder.
The 44th president took an odd turn into policy, insisting that changes be made so that “every American citizen has equal representation in our government, including the American citizens who live in Washington, DC, and in Puerto Rico.” Obama was effectively calling for the grant of statehood to these two US territories.
Now, he knows that statehood can only be granted by a vote of both houses of Congress, after which the law must be signed by the president. And under the rules that currently govern the Senate, this would never happen. (Put aside for a moment that the 23rd Amendment likely renders any effort to grant DC statehood unconstitutional.)
Why? As a practical political matter, DC is a Democratic stronghold, and it’s almost certain Puerto Rico would be, too, if it became a state. In other words, what Obama is championing here would lead to the immediate addition of four Democratic senators — effectively securing his party’s control of the upper chamber for a very long time.
He made a practical political proposal — during a eulogy! — to help achieve his goal.
“If all this takes eliminating the filibuster,” he declared, “in order to secure the God-given rights of every American, then that’s what we should do.”
The filibuster is the Senate procedure that requires a supermajority of senators, 60 out of 100, to agree that a piece of legislation should be considered by the full body.
Obama was conceding that the only way to get these new senators who will vote Democratic would be to kill the filibuster, and that it should be done — assuming, as many now do, that there may be a Democratic wave in November that will sweep Joe Biden into the White House and Democrats into the majority in the Senate.
The filibuster exists in the Senate for all sorts of reasons, but what it means in practice is that legislation can only make it to the president’s desk if there is some measure of bipartisan support for it.
And if there is anything — anything! — that should require at least token bipartisan support, it is the expansion of the size and scope of the United States of America.
Remember: The last grants of statehood came 61 years ago, when Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the union. It was known that Alaska leaned Democrat and Hawaii leaned Republican — so when the Democrats succeeded in advancing statehood and gaining two new senators from Alaskan statehood, it became a foregone conclusion Republicans would also get Hawaii and its two Senate seats a few months later.
Now the former president of the United States, looking at a country divided as it rarely has been before, is openly advocating a power play by his party to force through the most dramatic change to the American landscape since 1959.
It’s of a piece with the utter disrespect Obama showed to the democratic norms he and others now properly accuse Trump of ignoring.
When his party was shellacked in 2010 and lost control of the House of Representatives, it took Obama only a few months to decide that the will of the people in dividing power was an annoyance he couldn’t stomach.
“We can’t wait,” he announced. “I will not allow gridlock, or inaction, or willful indifference to get in our way.” He proudly began arrogating legislative power to the White House through a series of executive orders — many of them overturned by the courts.
The most dramatic came in 2014, when he granted temporary legal status to the illegal aliens with minor children who had been born in America. Over the previous few years, he had said on 22 separate occasions that he didn’t have that power.
Then he just seized it.
Trump’s tweet was horrific. Obama’s conduct, first as president and now as ex-president, shows he is Trump’s enabler.
jpodhoretz@gmail.com


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Fauci says Trump’s coronavirus policy decisions helped save lives

Testifying before Congress on Friday , Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly credited President Trump for coronavirus policy decisions that saved lives .
Those measures included Trump ’ s decisions to ban flights from China , the UK and the rest of Europe , and the administration ’ s “ Fifteen Days to Slow the Spread ” quarantine policy , initially ordered in mid-March and then extended to a total 30 days .
Appearing before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Response , Fauci said he participated in , and approved of , all of those policies — and that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lives .
He was grilled on the policies one by one by Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana , the top Republican on the committee .
Each time , Scalise asked if the nation ’ s top infectious disease doctor if he was involved in the decision to implement those policies , if he agreed with the president ’ s decision to do so , and if the policies saved lives .
In each instance , Fauci said he was involved and did agree — and that lives were saved .
“ So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot about disagreements , ” Scalise said .
“ Clearly , there are many decisions made , in fact there are many internationally-respected doctors that are involved in each of those decisions , is that correct ?
’ Scalise asked .
“ By and large would you say that you and President Trump have been in agreement on most of those decisions ?
” Scalise asked .
“ We were in agreement on virtually all of those , ” Fauci answered .
Also during the hearing , Fauci told the panel that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anytime soon — though he was hopeful that a vaccine would be available by “ late fall , early winter .
”

Testifying before Congress on Friday, Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly credited President Trump for coronavirus policy decisions that saved lives.
Those measures included Trump’s decisions to ban flights from China, the UK and the rest of Europe, and the administration’s “Fifteen Days to Slow the Spread” quarantine policy, initially ordered in mid-March and then extended to a total 30 days.
Appearing before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Response, Fauci said he participated in, and approved of, all of those policies — and that he believes they all resulted in the saving of lives.
He was grilled on the policies one by one by Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the top Republican on the committee.
Each time, Scalise asked if the nation’s top infectious disease doctor if he was involved in the decision to implement those policies, if he agreed with the president’s decision to do so, and if the policies saved lives.
In each instance, Fauci said he was involved and did agree — and that lives were saved.
“So I know we’ve heard a lot about disagreements,” Scalise said.
“Clearly, there are many decisions made, in fact there are many internationally-respected doctors that are involved in each of those decisions, is that correct?’ Scalise asked.
“Yes,” Fauci answered.
“By and large would you say that you and President Trump have been in agreement on most of those decisions?” Scalise asked.
“We were in agreement on virtually all of those,” Fauci answered.
“I appreciate that,” Scalise responded.
Also during the hearing, Fauci told the panel that the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t going away anytime soon — though he was hopeful that a vaccine would be available by “late fall, early winter.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-01--Become the ultimate Business Analyst with this $35 training

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store , from our partner StackCommerce .
NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links .
Business Analysts use fundamental techniques in order to optimize business processes — and they earn well above the national average for doing it .
According to Glassdoor , Business Analysts in the US make , on average , $ 68K a year .
If you live in a big city like New York or San Francisco , then this price can jump up to $ 93K .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Business Analyst , or if you simply want to become a rockstar in your current position , then an online training like The Exclusive Business Analysis Certification Bundle with Jeremy Aschenbrenner is a great place to start .
This expert-led training is broken down into 8 courses , all of which are taught by Jeremy Aschenbrenner .
Aschenbrenner is a veteran Business Analyst who has completed more than 1,000 projects across a variety of industries , from health care to food and beverage .
Not only is he an expert in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top-rated instructor .
Having taught more than 165K students , he is rated a whopping 4.5/5-stars .
With him as an instructor , you won ’ t be learning any theoretical concepts .
Instead , you will become a master of the most up-to-date , practical techniques that will transform you into the ultimate Business Analyst .
The Beginner ’ s Guide to Process Flowcharts : Learn how to identify and solve problems using business analysis techniques through the creation of practical process maps and flowcharts .
Business Analysis Fundamentals : Kickstart a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mastering the fundamentals .
Learn the six project methodologies , how to properly initiate a project , and how to utilize various modeling diagrams .
Agile Fundamentals 2020 : Scrum , Kanban , & Scumban : Develop an adaptive mindset through learning the basics of the most popular Agile frameworks such as Scrum , Kanban , and Scumban .
Learn how to achieve success , help an organization evolve , and command a strong focus .
The Advanced Guide to Process Flowcharts : Learn to diagram the most complex business processes with easy-to-understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have already learned by mastering symbols , concepts , and best practices .
Identify & Define the Problem with Business Analysis : Gain an understanding of how to break down problems until you can identify their root causes in order to solve them more efficiently .
Learn how to create a project proposal and transform problems into helpful projects .
Conduct a Strategy Analysis Using Business Analysis : Learn a 5-step strategy that will help you bring any big idea to life .
Discover how to assess the state of an organization and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Plan the Project as a Business Analyst : Master the project management techniques that will help you formulate a robust step-by-step project plan that will impress your team .
Learn how to manage stakeholders , create a project charter , and estimate the effort required to complete the project .
User Story Masterclass : Your In-Depth Guide to User Stories : Become a User Story Expert by mastering all of the best practices such as User Story format , writing Acceptance Criteria , splitting User Stories , and handling common challenges .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but , right now , you can slash 97 % off that price for a grand total of just $ 34.99 .
How ’ s that for a deal ?

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store, from our partner StackCommerce. NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links.
Business Analysts use fundamental techniques in order to optimize business processes — and they earn well above the national average for doing it. According to Glassdoor, Business Analysts in the US make, on average, $68K a year. If you live in a big city like New York or San Francisco, then this price can jump up to $93K.
If you are interested in kickstarting a career as a Business Analyst, or if you simply want to become a rockstar in your current position, then an online training like The Exclusive Business Analysis Certification Bundle with Jeremy Aschenbrenner is a great place to start.
This expert-led training is broken down into 8 courses, all of which are taught by Jeremy Aschenbrenner. Aschenbrenner is a veteran Business Analyst who has completed more than 1,000 projects across a variety of industries, from health care to food and beverage. Not only is he an expert in the field, but he is also a top-rated instructor. Having taught more than 165K students, he is rated a whopping 4.5/5-stars. With him as an instructor, you won’t be learning any theoretical concepts. Instead, you will become a master of the most up-to-date, practical techniques that will transform you into the ultimate Business Analyst.
Here’s a breakdown of the bundle:
The Beginner’s Guide to Process Flowcharts: Learn how to identify and solve problems using business analysis techniques through the creation of practical process maps and flowcharts.
Business Analysis Fundamentals: Kickstart a career as a Business Analyst by first mastering the fundamentals. Learn the six project methodologies, how to properly initiate a project, and how to utilize various modeling diagrams.
Agile Fundamentals 2020: Scrum, Kanban, & Scumban: Develop an adaptive mindset through learning the basics of the most popular Agile frameworks such as Scrum, Kanban, and Scumban. Learn how to achieve success, help an organization evolve, and command a strong focus.
The Advanced Guide to Process Flowcharts: Learn to diagram the most complex business processes with easy-to-understand flowcharts. Build upon the basics you have already learned by mastering symbols, concepts, and best practices.
Identify & Define the Problem with Business Analysis: Gain an understanding of how to break down problems until you can identify their root causes in order to solve them more efficiently. Learn how to create a project proposal and transform problems into helpful projects.
Conduct a Strategy Analysis Using Business Analysis: Learn a 5-step strategy that will help you bring any big idea to life. Discover how to assess the state of an organization and properly define what success means for them.
Plan the Project as a Business Analyst: Master the project management techniques that will help you formulate a robust step-by-step project plan that will impress your team. Learn how to manage stakeholders, create a project charter, and estimate the effort required to complete the project.
User Story Masterclass: Your In-Depth Guide to User Stories: Become a User Story Expert by mastering all of the best practices such as User Story format, writing Acceptance Criteria, splitting User Stories, and handling common challenges.
This training bundle usually costs $1592, but, right now, you can slash 97% off that price for a grand total of just $34.99. How’s that for a deal?


newyorkpost--2020-08-01--Enjoy 8 hours of cordless freedom with this portable battery sleeve for your Amazon Echo 2

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store , from our partner StackCommerce .
NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links .
“ Alexa , why do you have to be plugged in ?
” It is safe to say that the Amazon Echo 2 is a customer favorite .
You can use it to play music , ask questions , make calls , and send messages with just the sound of your voice .
With nearly 15K reviews , the Echo is rated a whopping 4.7/5-stars !
The only problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to work , making it impracticable to bring with you on-the-go ( or even just from room-to-room ) .
That is , of course , until SkyTote was created .
SkyTote is a portable battery sleeve that allows you to unplug and take Alexa anywhere within its current Wi-FI range .
The battery sleeve lasts up to 8-hours on a single charge and offers seamless pairing and integration between all of your favorite devices .
The 4 LED battery status indicator lights allow you to see how much battery is left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-stain , acoustically transparent fabric and carry handle creates an easy gadget to pick up and bring with you .
The SkyTote Battery Sleeve for Amazon Echo 2 usually retails for $ 59 , but , for a limited time , you can enjoy 8 hours of cordless freedom for only $ 23.99 ( 59 % off ) .
Considering how much more often you will be able to use your Echo now that it is not chained to a specific outlet in your kitchen , this $ 23 battery sleeve is an @ @ @ @

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store, from our partner StackCommerce. NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links.
“Alexa, play my Spotify.”
“Alexa, what’s the weather today?”
“Alexa, why do you have to be plugged in?”
It is safe to say that the Amazon Echo 2 is a customer favorite. You can use it to play music, ask questions, make calls, and send messages with just the sound of your voice. With nearly 15K reviews, the Echo is rated a whopping 4.7/5-stars! The only problem? It has to be plugged in in order to work, making it impracticable to bring with you on-the-go (or even just from room-to-room).
That is, of course, until SkyTote was created. SkyTote is a portable battery sleeve that allows you to unplug and take Alexa anywhere within its current Wi-FI range. The battery sleeve lasts up to 8-hours on a single charge and offers seamless pairing and integration between all of your favorite devices. The 4 LED battery status indicator lights allow you to see how much battery is left with just a glance, and the anti-stain, acoustically transparent fabric and carry handle creates an easy gadget to pick up and bring with you.
The SkyTote Battery Sleeve for Amazon Echo 2 usually retails for $59, but, for a limited time, you can enjoy 8 hours of cordless freedom for only $23.99 (59% off). Considering how much more often you will be able to use your Echo now that it is not chained to a specific outlet in your kitchen, this $23 battery sleeve is an investment worth making.


newyorkpost--2020-08-01--Joe Biden delays VP announcement another week

Joe Biden is not expected to pick a running mate until at least Aug. 10 .
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee had previously said he expected to name someone to the job by the first of the month .
The late in the game decision will put the announcement just one week before the Democratic convention that will officially designate the pair as the party ’ s presidential and vice presidential nominees .
Biden , 77 , would become the oldest person ever elected president if he triumphs in November and many believe he would only serve one term .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ urgency into the veepstakes as whoever is selected would become an instant 2024 frontrunner and potentially shape the party for years beyond .
In March , Biden promised to choose a woman for the job and since then may names have risen and fallen .
Sen. Kamala Harris , Rep. Karen Bass , and former National Security Advisor Susan Rice are among the current finalists .
“ For Joe Biden , this is crunch time .
After all the vetting , all the investigations into the prospective nominees , it ’ s now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal , ” said former New Mexico Gov .
Bill Richardson .
“ It ’ s now about his gut feeling .
”

He’s Biden his time.
Joe Biden is not expected to pick a running mate until at least Aug. 10. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee had previously said he expected to name someone to the job by the first of the month.
The late in the game decision will put the announcement just one week before the Democratic convention that will officially designate the pair as the party’s presidential and vice presidential nominees.
Biden, 77, would become the oldest person ever elected president if he triumphs in November and many believe he would only serve one term. That combination of factors has injected particular urgency into the veepstakes as whoever is selected would become an instant 2024 frontrunner and potentially shape the party for years beyond.
In March, Biden promised to choose a woman for the job and since then may names have risen and fallen. Sen. Kamala Harris, Rep. Karen Bass, and former National Security Advisor Susan Rice are among the current finalists.
“For Joe Biden, this is crunch time. After all the vetting, all the investigations into the prospective nominees, it’s now up to Joe. It’s personal,” said former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. “It’s now about his gut feeling.”
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-08-01--Why so many Americans are buying up personal bunkers

Tom Soulsby , 69 , and his wife , Mary , were one of the first to buy a bunker at Vivos xPoint — the self-proclaimed “ largest survival community on Earth ” — near the South Dakota town of Edgemont .
In 2017 , he made a $ 25,000 down payment and signed a 99-year land lease ( with fees of $ 1,000 per year ) to occupy an elliptical-shaped , 2,200 square-foot underground concrete bunker once used as a military fortress during World War II to store weapons and ammunition .
What he got for his money is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sealed by a concrete and steel blast door entrance , each shelter comes retrofitted with electrical wiring , an internal power generation system , plumbing , and walls designed to withstand a 500,000-pound internal blast .
Everything else — food , entertainment , a sense of community — is up to the occupant .
Soulsby ’ s goal , as he explains to cultural geographer Bradley Garrett — author of the new book “ Bunker : Building for the End Times ” ( Scribner ) , out Tuesday — was never to become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just an insurance policy , ” he said .
“ I ’ m going to fix it up and pass it down to my family .
I hope no one ever has to use it.
” But if it becomes necessary — and with the COVID-19 pandemic and violent uprisings around the country , it seems increasingly likely to Soulsby that it will be — his bunker is well-stocked and move-in ready .
“ It ’ s already ‘ home sweet bunker ’ around here , ” he told Garrett .
Milton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an xPoint bunker in 2017 , quit his lucrative IT job at Chicago ’ s Department of Veterans Affairs to live underground full-time .
“ I just love my bunker , ” he told Garrett .
“ I close the door and stay in there for a few days and then I can think again.
” The bunkers owned by Torres and Soulsby are both part of a complex spanning 18 square miles , or nearly three-quarters the size of Manhattan , connected by 100 miles of private road .
Their neighbors include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 574 additional private bunkers , capable of accommodating up to 10,000 people .
When Soulsby signed on the dotted line , he was one of a handful of new owners .
But in 2020 , Vivos xPoint has become hotly sought-after real estate .
The price has jumped to $ 35,000 , says Robert Vicino , the California developer and CEO of the Vivos Group , which launched in 2008 , and bunker sales are “ up over 600 percent.
” Five hundred bunkers are still available , but Vicino tells The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about one bunker a day.
” It ’ s a good time to be in the bunker business — or as Garrett has dubbed them , “ Dread Merchants.
” There are around 3.7 million Americans prepping today on some scale , feeding a multibillion-dollar-a-year industry that has become more mainstream because of the pandemic .
“ I expect a quarter of the country to be prepping on some level by the end of the year , ” Garrett tells The Post .
During the late 1950s and early 1960s , Cold War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 200,000 Americans to invest in fallout shelters .
But it was a passing fad , and the new wave of bunker owners aren ’ t just driven by fears of nuclear annihilation .
A YouGov survey from last February found that nearly one in five ( 19 percent ) Americans believe a global pandemic or climate change would bring about an apocalypse , compared to 17 percent who think humanity will be eradicated by nuclear war .
Bunker-leasing and selling companies have been popping up across the country in recent years — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beach , Va. , Northeast Bunkers in Pittsfield , Maine , and Atlas Survival Shelters in Sulphur Springs , Texas , to name a few — and their customer base isn ’ t motivated by a single imminent catastrophe .
“ It ’ s a more general sense of disquiet in response to a greater variety of threats , ” says Garrett .
Larry Hall , 63 , who converted an underground Cold War nuclear missile silo in central Kansas into a 15-story inverted skyscraper , says he ’ s received four times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buyers this year , and he believes it ’ s largely due to COVID-19 .
“ People now realize just how fragile their normal existence really is , ” he tells The Post .
“ To this point , we now have a new level of credibility and far less people who considered us as ‘ paranoid.
’ ” Garrett suspects that it ’ s the media , and social media in particular , that has fueled bunker interest .
“ In the past , if there was a disaster somewhere , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event had passed , or never at all , ” he says .
“ Now we ’ re subjected to an endless drip-feed of dread detailing every emergency , major and minor , taking place across the world .
This gives us a collective sense that everything is falling apart.
” Which is a good thing for dread merchants .
As Dante Vicino , 27 , the Executive Director of the Vivos Group , told The Post , bunker-curious customers are “ now ready to get off the proverbial fence and secure a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Larry Hall , the biggest challenge in building his Survival Condo wasn ’ t making sure the epoxy-hardened concrete walls were thick enough ( they ’ re nine feet deep ) or that the water reserve tanks had a minimum of 75,000 gallons ( they do ) , but whether living underground was psychologically and socially tolerable .
Hall , an ex–government contractor and property developer , purchased a Kansas silo in 2008 for just $ 300,000 , and in less than a decade transformed it into a luxury bolthole , where a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five years .
Assuming , of course , he could find a way to “ make this place as normal as possible , ” Hall explained to Garrett .
“ No one wants to be reminded all the time that they are basically living in a submarine.
” He ’ s worked with psychologists to create that illusion of “ normalcy , ” he says .
Where life below ground wouldn ’ t feel all that dissimilar from their “ pre-event ” life .
So he created a food distribution area that looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above ground .
“ Getting food out of a box is not the same as going to a store and filling a shopping cart , ” Hall tells The Post .
“ These senses keep your subconscious mind ‘ happy.
’ ” All Survival Condo apartments come equipped with LED window screens , on which residents can display anything that puts their minds at ease .
One apartment , designed to feel like a log cabin , has a six-screen window display that looks down on “ a snow-capped mountain range , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently resides in New York City , paid for a two-story underground “ penthouse ” with a view that reminds her of home .
“ She had videos filmed of Central Park from her Manhattan loft during all four seasons , day and night , together with the cacophonous sounds of urban life.
” Garrett writes .
Using a $ 75,000 projector , her Survival Condo has a balcony view that resembles the world she ’ ll eventually leave behind .
It ’ s meant to be comforting , as long as she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ staring at video images of a city and neighbors long-since decimated in an apocalyptic event , ” says Garrett .
All of the accommodations — from the two-level thousand-square-foot penthouse , which sells for $ 4.5 million , to the full-floor ( $ 3 million ) and half-floor apartments ( $ 1.5 million ) — have luxury furnishings like stone electric fireplaces and marble countertop kitchens .
They also have access to a shared gym , gender-separated saunas , a library , a classroom for children , and a cinema with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 57 people have signed on to join the Survival Condo community , occupying ( or reserving ) twelve apartments .
Their identities are strictly confidential , but Hall does claim they have at least two doctors — “ precisely the kind of clients he was looking for , ” writes Garrett .
It ’ s a stark contrast to the customer demographics at Vivos .
Although xPoint promotes itself as a “ luxury ” bunker facility , Vicino insists that the majority of his clients are middle-class .
“ It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he says .
His other bunker complex , Vivos Indiana , another one-time Cold War-era structure — its exact location is a secret , but it ’ s rumored to be near Terre Haute — costs just $ 35,000 per adult and $ 25,000 per child for apocalypse security for up to a year , and all 80 slots have already sold out .
Bunker preppers don ’ t consider themselves fatalists ; they ’ re realists .
But they also have hope .
“ If you don ’ t believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no reason to prep , ” writes Garrett .
“ So prepping is a hopeful act , an act of defiance against disaster.
” Or , as Vicino explains : “ No one wants to go into the bunker , they want to come out of the bunker.
” The one common denominator among all preppers is a distrust of the government .
They have no faith in politicians to save them , whether it ’ s from a pandemic , climate change , or something else just as ominous .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ comet coming our way and the government is ready but they ’ re not going to protect us , ” Vicino told Garrett .
“ You look at the dinosaurs , they got hit by a comet and what life survived that event ?
The life that went underground.
” Mark Bowman , an Indiana tradesman who was one of the first , along with Soulsby , to lease an xPoint bunker back in 2017 , told Garrett he believes FEMA stands for “ Foolishly Expecting Meaningful Aid.
” There are no Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just a community united by the idea that when real trouble happens , the “ sclerotic government infrastructure ” will leave them for dead .
But their contempt for politicians doesn ’ t extend to their fellow citizens .
In fact , Soulsby believes that a big disaster “ would actually bring out the best in people , ” writes Garrett , an event that “ might be a way of enabling us to recover a lost social solidarity.
” This depiction goes against the usual media portrayal of preppers hiding behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond their secure boundaries .
“ After the reset , ” says Torres , speaking of the coming apocalypse , “ we won ’ t even need laws , just the respect we already have for each other .
I can ’ t wait for that.
” “ The way I see it , ” Soulsby told the author , “ being prepared puts me in a better position to help others .
It ’ s like when you fly , and they tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first @

Tom Soulsby, 69, and his wife, Mary, were one of the first to buy a bunker at Vivos xPoint — the self-proclaimed “largest survival community on Earth” — near the South Dakota town of Edgemont. In 2017, he made a $25,000 down payment and signed a 99-year land lease (with fees of $1,000 per year) to occupy an elliptical-shaped, 2,200 square-foot underground concrete bunker once used as a military fortress during World War II to store weapons and ammunition.
What he got for his money is security — and not much else. Sealed by a concrete and steel blast door entrance, each shelter comes retrofitted with electrical wiring, an internal power generation system, plumbing, and walls designed to withstand a 500,000-pound internal blast. Everything else — food, entertainment, a sense of community — is up to the occupant.
Soulsby’s goal, as he explains to cultural geographer Bradley Garrett — author of the new book “Bunker: Building for the End Times” (Scribner), out Tuesday — was never to become a full-time bunker resident.
“This is just an insurance policy,” he said. “I’m going to fix it up and pass it down to my family. I hope no one ever has to use it.”
But if it becomes necessary — and with the COVID-19 pandemic and violent uprisings around the country, it seems increasingly likely to Soulsby that it will be — his bunker is well-stocked and move-in ready.
“It’s already ‘home sweet bunker’ around here,” he told Garrett.
Milton Torres, 43, who also bought an xPoint bunker in 2017, quit his lucrative IT job at Chicago’s Department of Veterans Affairs to live underground full-time.
“I just love my bunker,” he told Garrett. “I close the door and stay in there for a few days and then I can think again.”
The bunkers owned by Torres and Soulsby are both part of a complex spanning 18 square miles, or nearly three-quarters the size of Manhattan, connected by 100 miles of private road. Their neighbors include (or will include) the occupants of 574 additional private bunkers, capable of accommodating up to 10,000 people.
When Soulsby signed on the dotted line, he was one of a handful of new owners. But in 2020, Vivos xPoint has become hotly sought-after real estate. The price has jumped to $35,000, says Robert Vicino, the California developer and CEO of the Vivos Group, which launched in 2008, and bunker sales are “up over 600 percent.”
Five hundred bunkers are still available, but Vicino tells The Post they’re “currently selling about one bunker a day.”
It’s a good time to be in the bunker business — or as Garrett has dubbed them, “Dread Merchants.” There are around 3.7 million Americans prepping today on some scale, feeding a multibillion-dollar-a-year industry that has become more mainstream because of the pandemic. “I expect a quarter of the country to be prepping on some level by the end of the year,” Garrett tells The Post.
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Cold War tensions and nuclear war anxiety caused more than 200,000 Americans to invest in fallout shelters. But it was a passing fad, and the new wave of bunker owners aren’t just driven by fears of nuclear annihilation.
A YouGov survey from last February found that nearly one in five (19 percent) Americans believe a global pandemic or climate change would bring about an apocalypse, compared to 17 percent who think humanity will be eradicated by nuclear war.
Bunker-leasing and selling companies have been popping up across the country in recent years — there’s Hardened Structures in Virginia Beach, Va., Northeast Bunkers in Pittsfield, Maine, and Atlas Survival Shelters in Sulphur Springs, Texas, to name a few — and their customer base isn’t motivated by a single imminent catastrophe.
“It’s a more general sense of disquiet in response to a greater variety of threats,” says Garrett.
Larry Hall, 63, who converted an underground Cold War nuclear missile silo in central Kansas into a 15-story inverted skyscraper, says he’s received four times the usual level of inquiries from potential buyers this year, and he believes it’s largely due to COVID-19.
“People now realize just how fragile their normal existence really is,” he tells The Post. “To this point, we now have a new level of credibility and far less people who considered us as ‘paranoid.’ ”
Garrett suspects that it’s the media, and social media in particular, that has fueled bunker interest.
“In the past, if there was a disaster somewhere, we might learn about it long after the event had passed, or never at all,” he says. “Now we’re subjected to an endless drip-feed of dread detailing every emergency, major and minor, taking place across the world. This gives us a collective sense that everything is falling apart.”
Which is a good thing for dread merchants. As Dante Vicino, 27, the Executive Director of the Vivos Group, told The Post, bunker-curious customers are “now ready to get off the proverbial fence and secure a space while they still can.”
For Larry Hall, the biggest challenge in building his Survival Condo wasn’t making sure the epoxy-hardened concrete walls were thick enough (they’re nine feet deep) or that the water reserve tanks had a minimum of 75,000 gallons (they do), but whether living underground was psychologically and socially tolerable.
Hall, an ex–government contractor and property developer, purchased a Kansas silo in 2008 for just $300,000, and in less than a decade transformed it into a luxury bolthole, where a community of 75 could survive up to five years. Assuming, of course, he could find a way to “make this place as normal as possible,” Hall explained to Garrett.
“No one wants to be reminded all the time that they are basically living in a submarine.”
He’s worked with psychologists to create that illusion of “normalcy,” he says. Where life below ground wouldn’t feel all that dissimilar from their “pre-event” life.
People now realize just how fragile their normal existence really is. - South Dakota bunker developer Larry Hall
So he created a food distribution area that looked and operated similar to a grocery store above ground. “Getting food out of a box is not the same as going to a store and filling a shopping cart,” Hall tells The Post. “These senses keep your subconscious mind ‘happy.’ ”
All Survival Condo apartments come equipped with LED window screens, on which residents can display anything that puts their minds at ease. One apartment, designed to feel like a log cabin, has a six-screen window display that looks down on “a snow-capped mountain range,” Garrett writes.
Another resident, who currently resides in New York City, paid for a two-story underground “penthouse” with a view that reminds her of home.
“She had videos filmed of Central Park from her Manhattan loft during all four seasons, day and night, together with the cacophonous sounds of urban life.” Garrett writes.
Using a $75,000 projector, her Survival Condo has a balcony view that resembles the world she’ll eventually leave behind. It’s meant to be comforting, as long as she doesn’t remember that she’s “staring at video images of a city and neighbors long-since decimated in an apocalyptic event,” says Garrett.
All of the accommodations — from the two-level thousand-square-foot penthouse, which sells for $4.5 million, to the full-floor ($3 million) and half-floor apartments ($1.5 million) — have luxury furnishings like stone electric fireplaces and marble countertop kitchens. They also have access to a shared gym, gender-separated saunas, a library, a classroom for children, and a cinema with terraced leather recliners.
So far, 57 people have signed on to join the Survival Condo community, occupying (or reserving) twelve apartments. Their identities are strictly confidential, but Hall does claim they have at least two doctors — “precisely the kind of clients he was looking for,” writes Garrett.
It’s a stark contrast to the customer demographics at Vivos. Although xPoint promotes itself as a “luxury” bunker facility, Vicino insists that the majority of his clients are middle-class.
“It’s a myth that Vivos is only for billionaires,” he says. His other bunker complex, Vivos Indiana, another one-time Cold War-era structure — its exact location is a secret, but it’s rumored to be near Terre Haute — costs just $35,000 per adult and $25,000 per child for apocalypse security for up to a year, and all 80 slots have already sold out.
Bunker preppers don’t consider themselves fatalists; they’re realists. But they also have hope. “If you don’t believe there will be a future, there’s no reason to prep,” writes Garrett. “So prepping is a hopeful act, an act of defiance against disaster.”
Or, as Vicino explains: “No one wants to go into the bunker, they want to come out of the bunker.”
The one common denominator among all preppers is a distrust of the government. They have no faith in politicians to save them, whether it’s from a pandemic, climate change, or something else just as ominous.
“We know there’s a comet coming our way and the government is ready but they’re not going to protect us,” Vicino told Garrett. “You look at the dinosaurs, they got hit by a comet and what life survived that event? The life that went underground.”
Mark Bowman, an Indiana tradesman who was one of the first, along with Soulsby, to lease an xPoint bunker back in 2017, told Garrett he believes FEMA stands for “Foolishly Expecting Meaningful Aid.” There are no Democrats or Republicans among the xPoint Bunker owners, just a community united by the idea that when real trouble happens, the “sclerotic government infrastructure” will leave them for dead.
But their contempt for politicians doesn’t extend to their fellow citizens. In fact, Soulsby believes that a big disaster “would actually bring out the best in people,” writes Garrett, an event that “might be a way of enabling us to recover a lost social solidarity.”
This depiction goes against the usual media portrayal of preppers hiding behind steel walls while their fellow humans perish beyond their secure boundaries.
“After the reset,” says Torres, speaking of the coming apocalypse, “we won’t even need laws, just the respect we already have for each other. I can’t wait for that.”
“The way I see it,” Soulsby told the author, “being prepared puts me in a better position to help others. It’s like when you fly, and they tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first.
“If you’re dead, you’re not helping anyone.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-01--Tom Thibodeau hints at shift in Knicks’ G-League stance

Maybe it would ’ ve made a difference if there had been ...

Judging by Tom Thibodeau’s remarks Thursday, the Knicks’ policy on using their G-League Westchester Knicks could shift.
During his Zoom introductory call, Thibodeau said if a young prospect isn’t getting sufficient playing time, there may be reason to explore sending him to the G-League.
“I think game-time is important,’’ Thibodeau said. “So if a young player is not getting the appropriate amount of time to develop, we’ll utilize the G-League. That’s become an important part of our league. We’ll certainly take advantage of that.’’
There was an irony to Thibodeau’s statement. The idea of using the G-League Knicks to give massive minutes to lottery picks such as Dennis Smith Jr., Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina became the root of a debate between Craig Robinson, the team’s former vice president of player development/G-League operations, and Knicks GM Scott Perry, The Post has learned.
Robinson, brother of former First Lady Michelle Obama, left the Knicks in mid-July to become the head of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Robinson’s contract was to expire in August and he was not expected to return under the new regime. Robinson and ousted president Steve Mills were former Princeton teammates and close friends.
According to an NBA source familiar with the situation, Robinson lobbied to have the Knicks’ top prospects who weren’t getting enough NBA time to spend a few games — or weeks — in the G-League to gain rhythm and grow confidence.
Perry rejected the notion, feeling it would be perceived as too big a demotion and felt practice time as well as being around NBA coaches was more vital, according to a source. Robinson’s counter was that during the NBA season, practice time and scrimmages are limited.
There were plenty of opportunities for Smith, Ntilikina and Knox to play for Westchester. Robinson felt that would be a healthy aspect of their development, according to the source. Allonzo Trier is no longer with the club but also didn’t go to Westchester despite being out of the rotation all season.
In 2019-20, Smith saw two big layoffs. In October, he left the club for three weeks after his stepmother passed away. That was followed by sitting out more than a month with an oblique injury. Smith was also in and out of the rotation upon his return and his season turned into a mess.
Ntilikina, too, has not always been a key fixture in the rotation in his first three seasons. In addition, Knox, faced with limited playing time in his second season, struggled massively with a demotion to the bench.
Those three combined to play zero games in the G-League — which may or may not have stunted their growth.
Robinson had pushed for Courtney Lee and Joakim Noah to make rehab appearances in Westchester. That was approved by Perry. In addition, second-round picks, Damyean Dotson and Ignas Brazdeikis, saw their share of G-League action. Brazdeikis played 24 games for Westchester as a rookie.
This apparent change in philosophy — if adopted — could have a large impact in 2020-21. The Knicks have three picks in the top 37, their own lottery pick, the Clippers’ first-rounder and Charlotte’s second-round pick.
Thibodeau has a track record of not overplaying his rookies. So theoretically, Westchester could be an occasional landing spot to try to speed up their player development.
It is unclear if Robinson’s position will be filled by team president Leon Rose. According a league source, the franchise might want more of an on-court player development coach than Robinson was.
Robinson had more of an executive role as Mills designed it three years ago and the former Oregon State coach didn’t do on-court work with the players.
However, Robinson was known to take out a lot of the players to dinner on the road to instill trust, goodwill and get to know them better. Perhaps that was what he was referring to when he talked about the “special sauce’’ the franchise was using in its player development.
The Post has reported assistant to the GM Allan Houston would take on more of an on-court player-developmental role and that Rod Strickland has been considered for a G-League/player development role.
Thibodeau made reference to the situation when asked his view of player development. Houston played for the Knicks when Thibodeau was the top assistant. Thibodeau was not asked specifically about Robinson’s departure.
“In some cases the player development guys are the guys you get out on the floor,’’ Thibodeau said. “If you have some older players on your roster, you tend to go with more player development guys so the younger guys can get the work they need [if they’re not playing]. But I think we’ll look at our roster. We have a very young team. We have to prioritize that.”
Perry, who was on the Zoom call, stressed player development as a part of Thibodeau’s new staff.
“Based on the conversations that we’ve had, this staff will be diverse and very strong in all areas, especially in player development,’’ Perry said.


newyorkpost--2020-08-01--Masahiro Tanaka will wear this protective gear in Yankees’ return

Those who grow up a Yankee understand the day for ...

Masahiro Tanaka sounded pretty sure he will wear a protective insert in his hat Saturday night when he makes his first start of the season against the Red Sox.
And he was adamant that he won’t be spooked by the memory of getting hit in the head on July 4 by a Giancarlo Stanton liner that was clocked at 112 mph and left him with a concussion.
“When I went on the mound at Scranton I didn’t think of it at all,’’ Tanaka said on a Zoom call Friday afternoon before the Yankees’ 5-1 win over the Red Sox. He faced hitters at the Yankees’ alternate site earlier this week. “That said, I think I should be fine.’’
As for the insert that will be worn on right side of his hat in the area where the ball struck him and sent him to the dirt, Tanaka said it was suggested by the medical staff.
“I think I will wear that in the game [Saturday]. I didn’t know about it. It was the trainers who recommended and wanted to know if I wanted to try this on,” Tanaka said. “I was on board with that and I did try it on. It actually turned out it didn’t bother me at all. You kind of forget that it is even in there. So that is when I felt this might work and also it gives me peace of mind, obviously and it will protect me in a sense, too. That is why I most likely use that in [Saturday’s] game.’’
Asked how deep he could go against the Red Sox, Tanaka said until he is removed from the game.
“I am not sure how many pitches I will be given. I guess we will see. Just compete on the mound until [Boone] takes the ball away from me,’’ Tanaka said.
In addition to missing time due to the concussion, Tanaka has been faced with the challenges of working around the hurdles that COVID-19 has presented.
“Given the situation we are in it is challenging but every single player is in the same situation,’’ Tanaka said. “So there is really no excuse for that. My mindset for that is just to go out there and compete and be the best version that I can.’’
With COVID-19 hitting the Marlins hard and forcing them and the Phillies to pause their seasons and the Cardinals-Brewers game Friday night to be postponed, Tanaka addressed the issue.
“I feel like this was almost expected. In that sense I am not overly shocked or overly worried but obviously it is a concern that this is happening,’’ Tanaka said. “I think it is kind of a reminder that we really need to be responsible in the action and behavior we take.’’