newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Rays excited to face Astros after beating ESPN’s ‘golden child’

The Rays didn ’ t just troll the Yankees by celebrating to ...

A Yankees-Astros showdown in the ALCS would have fit the narrative quite nicely in the first postseason since Houston’s sign-stealing scandal was revealed.
But the Rays have been torching the norms and expectations for a few years, so why stop now?
The Rays crashed the party Friday night with a dramatic Game 5 win over the Yankees in the ALDS, setting up a meeting with the Astros in the ALCS beginning Sunday night at Petco Park in San Diego.
“Well, we did beat [ESPN’s] golden child,” Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks said during a break in the postgame celebration. “I know they cater to all the big boys.
“We’re fine with it. We love it. We’re a good ballclub. We’re trying to go out there and win no matter how big the market is that the team we’re playing is made of.”
The Rays have another big-market opponent up next in an Astros team that is playing in its fourth straight championship series — the fourth team in the wild-card era to do so. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is there for just the second time in franchise history after losing in its previous four trips to the ALDS before this year.
That included last October, when the Rays fell to the Astros in five games with Gerrit Cole pitching eight dominant innings for Houston in the deciding Game 5. But Cole is with the Yankees now and Justin Verlander — who with Cole was responsible for all three wins in the series — is unavailable after recent Tommy John surgery.
“We’re better this year than we were last year, and also, I know they have a lot of talent over there still, but they don’t have Gerrit Cole or Justin Verlander,” outfielder Kevin Kiermaier said Saturday. “We definitely like that.”
Left-hander Framber Valdez will start Sunday’s Game 1 for the Astros against Rays southpaw Blake Snell, who will be tasked with cooling off a Houston offense that largely struggled throughout the regular season before finding its groove in the ALDS.
The Astros have also seemingly embraced the villain role in the aftermath of their sign-stealing scandal that rocked baseball last offseason. They escaped the wrath of fans due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the scandal still followed them throughout the season and it would have been particularly amplified in a matchup with the Yankees, who they had beaten in the since-tainted 2017 ALCS.
But the Rays don’t mind playing the role of the good versus evil in this year’s championship series.
“I’ll enjoy that,” Kiermaier said. “I would hope more people would be rooting for us given the circumstances, rightfully so. … No one has forgotten what they have done or chose to do in years past and they have to live with that. But we want to end their season this year, doing everything our way and beating them at our game.”
The Yankees experienced that the hard way, both in the regular season and the ALDS. The Astros haven’t faced the Rays all year, but after fending them off in the ALDS last year and watching them from afar this year, they’re well aware of the challenge that awaits.
“That’s an outstanding baseball team from top to bottom,” Astros outfielder George Springer said. “Starters to bullpen, up and down their lineup. I remember watching them throughout the year and kind of just being like, ‘Well, that’s who they are.’ They are an unbelievable baseball team, a hard team to beat, so it’s going to be a grind.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--NFL Week 5 predictions: Surging Bills and Josh Allen will beat Titans

The Jets got good news on Friday , and so did ...

Home team in CAPS:
Tuesday
Bills (-1) over TITANS: The latest COVID-19 influences on the beleaguered Titans compelled a shift to this weekday kickoff. Bills QB Josh Allen isn’t the flashiest league operator — yet — but he’s improved markedly, and WR Stefon Diggs serves as a devilish distraction.
Sunday
Cardinals (-7) over JETS: Sam Darnold’s sore throwing arm compels the home side to reach for Super Bowl-winning QB Joe Flacco as a stopgap. The Jets are coming off winning the turnover war by three against Broncos, at MetLife — though they lost! Note Jets’ COVID issues, which surfaced Friday morning, when Gang Green players were sent home, but seemed to be resolved with negative tests later in the day.
Giants (+8.5) over COWBOYS: Dallas’ so-called defensive effort versus the Browns was an abomination. The Big Blue stop unit has exceeded expectations when away from MetLife. Hearty LT Tyron Smith’s absence for the ’Boys wounds home side.
Panthers (+1.5) over FALCONS: Reluctant to rush to the Falcons, who’ve demonstrated a sustained unwillingness to piece together 60 focused minutes defensively. Matt Rhule has flashed multiple sharp inspirations as Carolina’s head coach, and Teddy Bridgewater rates favorably in our NFL quarterback ratings.
CHIEFS (-12) over Raiders: Easing of price of admission on defending champs prods us their way. Silver and Black have not shown any advantage in K.C. in recent years. The Raiders’ prevailing ground defense hasn’t been up to snuff — a dangerous mode of living, when seeking to topple Pat.Mahomes.
Eagles (+7) over STEELERS: Off an unexpected bye due to the Titans’ COVID considerations, Pittsburgh remains its focused, talented self, and Ben Roethlisberger (the gift which keeps on giving) endures — but the Iggles finally got off the schneid when they exercised their greater hunger in the Sunday night game’s fourth quarter versus San Francisco.
Rams (-7) over WASHINGTON: D.C. has seen enough of Dwayne Haskins at quarterback and has turned to University of Houston product Kyle Allen — previously coached by Ron Rivera at Carolina. Allen threw 17 touchdown passes and 16 picks while mopping up the conclusion of last season for the Panthers, but we’re dubious about his ability to sustain lengthy drives against the Rams’ vaunted defense.
Bengals (+13) over RAVENS: Cincinnati has endured issues with AFC North power sides — but those past performances were laid down before the advent of star rookie QB Joe Burrow. Tie in Burrow with the return of healthy RB Joe Mixon, who ran wild against the Jaguars last week. The Ravens figure to advance, without having to show their best stuff.
Jaguars (+6.5) over TEXANS: Houston coach Bill O’Brien hit the bricks on the heels of the Texans’ home loss to the Vikings, as veteran defense specialist Romeo Crennel assumed the head-coaching role on an interim basis. Any diffusion of Houston’s focus on this task could leave the door open for the Jags, whose QB, Gardner Minshew, owes hosts plenty for twin stuffings in 2019.
Dolphins (+9.5) over 49ERS: Jimmy Garoppolo will be back calling signals for the Niners, but Ryan Fitzpatrick — the experienced QB out of Harvard — is enjoying another impressive campaign for Miami, managing multiple stout efforts despite being dissed in the market. Knowledge and experience often goes a long way in this league. Expect competitive affair.
BROWNS (+1.5) over Colts: Hopefully, Cleveland shakes off the satisfied feeling that comes from thrashing the Cowboys. Philip Rivers may think he has gone to heaven, operating behind Indianapolis’ offensive line, but can envision sustained Cleveland improvement.
Vikings (+7) over SEAHAWKS: Sunday night underdog is no certainty, given imposing Seattle talent display, which hasn’t failed to cover yet this season — but exceptional wideouts (Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen) as Kirk Cousins’ targets will cause issues for the Seahawks D.
Monday
PATRIOTS vs. Broncos: This game has been postponed to next week.
Chargers (+7.5) over SAINTS: Justin Herbert has been entrusted with the starting QB job for the Chargers. The Oregon rookie has earned it, passing the eye test in a significant way. Jared Cook and Michael Thomas — among other high-profilers — lead New Orleans’ relative return to health, though Drew Brees isn’t in peak form. Bolts RB Austin Ekeler’s absence (hamstring) is unfortunate.
Last week: 6-6-2.
Season: 29-26-4.


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Defying COVID-19 restrictions, Brooklyn’s Ultra-Orthodox sing and pray in crowds

Attn : New York Football Giants : The end zone is the ...

Khristina Narizhnaya, Alex Taylor, Laura Italiano

Ultra-Orthodox Jews sang and prayed in Brooklyn on Saturday — often maskless and crowding in the hundreds — as they began Simchat Torah, an annual two-day celebration of the Torah.
“Passover time, we were all on lockdown — most of us got sick, we lost some of the best in the community,” a woman who gave her name as Chaya said at the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters on Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, where some 200 worshipers gathered.
Now, “we’re on the other side” of the pandemic, she insisted.
She brushed off as “fake news” the infection spikes recently recorded across a broad swath of central Brooklyn, which Thursday led to strict rules limiting gatherings to under 25 people, or under 10 in the worst so-called “hot spots.”
“The numbers are nothing like they were, also it’s more treatable,” Chaya told a Post reporter. “The community doctors are telling us to live our lives.”
Agreed another worshiper there, “People don’t understand that we have herd immunity.”
He said, “People don’t understand that we have not had people going to the hospitals for months and months and months.
“We have doctors in our community who are telling us what to do,” he added.
“When you see for so long people are not getting sick anymore, we feel that we can celebrate.”
Mostly mask-less crowds gathered along 13th and 14th avenues in Hasidic Borough Park, though there were none of the violent protests against coronavirus restrictions that broke out earlier in the week.
In Williamsburg, Hooper Street in front of Congregation Yetev Lev D’Satmar was closed off to make room for the observance.
“Nobody wears a mask inside,” a man who cleans the synagogue told The Post, asking his name not be used.
Previous 1 of 14 Next Advertisement A Hasidic man walks without a mask into 11 Hooper st William Miller William Miller Advertisement Hasidic men walk around without masks William Miller William Miller Lubavitch Hasidic men, many withput masks, gather at the Chabad World Headquarters William Miller Advertisement William Miller William Miller William Miller Advertisement William Miller William Miller Advertisement
“Nobody cares. Often there are hundreds — no masks,” he complained.
“The cops give them masks outside [the synagogue] and inside they…”
Here, the worker made a gesture of flinging a mask away from his face.
“But what am I gonna do? I have to work,” he added. “It’s kind of hard to find a job right now.”
Not all of the Orthodox rules behave recklessly, said Alex Adama, who lives two blocks from the Satmar neighborhood in South Williamsburg.
But “there is a large group who don’t,” he said.
“I think they are using religion to justify criminal behavior,” he said.
“They don’t believe in science, and if anyone says anything about it, they say you are anti-Semites.
“I don’t understand why the city can’t do anything. Cuomo and de Blasio said they will start enforcing these rules, but I haven’t seen it.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Giants’ task is clear: Score some touchdowns, already

This is Cowboys Week .
This is also Jason Garrett Week ... .

Attn: New York Football Giants:
The end zone is the area between the end line and the goal line, bounded by the sidelines. The end zone is 10 yards long by 53 ¹/₃ yards wide. A player in possession of the football scores a touchdown when the ball crosses the goal line and enters the end zone.
A touchdown is worth six points, accomplished by gaining legal possession of the ball in the opponent’s end zone or by the ball crossing the plane of the opponent’s goal line with legal possession by a player.
Just in case you fellas forgot!!!
In three games since the opener, heading into Sunday’s important rodeo on the road against the Cowboys, Dion Lewis’ 1-yard TD run in the first minute of the fourth quarter in Chicago stands as the lone Giants TD.
Before this 0-4 start, Daniel Jones was over the moon about directing Jason Garrett’s quarterback-friendly offense. What we have witnessed so far is a kicker-friendly offense. Jones has thrown two TD passes, none since the opener against the Steelers. Over the past three games, Graham “The Toe” Gano has booted eight field goals.
It reminds cringing old-timers of the bad old days, when the Giants defense would exhort its inept offense with pleas of: “Just hold ’em!”
The main event will feature a floundering young franchise quarterback (five interceptions, two lost fumbles) against a Cowboys defense (36.5 ppg) that was torched for 307 rushing yards by the Browns last week and has been branded as soft by defensive end Demarcus Lawrence while disgracing the uniforms of Bob Lilly, Randy White and Ed “Too Tall” Jones, among others.
The only starting quarterbacks with a lower yards per attempt average than Jones (6.0) are Carson Wentz (5.8) and Sam Darnold (5.7):
Throw a damn TD pass already, kid.
Throw two, while you’re at it, since the Cowboys have scored 40, 38 and 38 in their past three games.
Get your team in the end zone, already. With your legs if you have to.
And how about reminding us of how accurate and poised and swaggerlicious you were as a rookie, and hang onto the football, and try not to lock in on your first read, and try not to throw any head-scratching interceptions — especially in the red zone, especially in the fourth quarter.
“I’m always learning and improving. But I don’t think you use that ever as an excuse. I’m expected to play well, understand what we’re trying to do and execute it,” Jones said.
Garrett, handicapped somewhat by a paucity of weapons, and a left tackle and a center cutting their teeth on the fly, has looked like a coach who hasn’t called plays in eight years as he returns to Jerry World with an offense averaging a league-worst 11.75 ppg.
“I think this offense has the capability of being explosive,” Jones said.
Life after Saquon Barkley has been downright cruel, but at least Devonta Freeman seems to be rounding into form. The running game showed signs of life late against the Rams, which should embolden Garrett.
Call more deep shots, Coach. Throw some caution to the wind. Play to win, not not to lose. Find a way to make Evan Engram your Jason Witten.
Garrett shared his intimate knowledge of Cowboys personnel with players on both sides of the ball. Now we see if it can be an advantage to him and to Jones.
“You take those shots and you’re not able to hold it and protect it the way you need to, a lot of bad things happen and you find yourself digging out of those drives,” Garrett said. “You have to be selective, again, when you’re kind of rebuilding with a team to find those spots. But there’s no question they’re important in drives if you want to score points.”
For Joe Judge to avoid nomination for Best 0-5 Coach in Football, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham must make sure Dak Prescott doesn’t throw again for 500 yards while containing Ezekiel Elliott to at least give Jones and Garrett a fighting chance.
As unfathomable and unlikely as it is to envision the Giants in any division race, this is the NFC Least.
The Eagles play in Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. Washington, which is turning to Kyle Allen after benching Dwayne Haskins, hosts the Rams at 1. By the time the Giants walk off the AT&T Stadium field at around 7:30 p.m., they could be half a game behind the first-place Eagles.
“There’s still a great opportunity for us to take control,” Giants offensive tackle and former Cowboy, Cameron Fleming told The Post. “Everything we wanted and all of our goals are in front of us, thankfully. We haven’t started the season like we would like to. I think everything’s still in front of us.”
Remember, fellas, so this is the end zone !!!


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--US officials looking to restart air travel between London and NYC

U.S. officials are reportedly looking to restart quarantine-free air travel between major international destinations — with flights between New York @ @ @ @ @ this holiday season .
Sources told The Wall Street Journal the Trump administration is exploring @ @ @ @ @ availability of coronavirus tests in the United States .
Any travel corridors would require fliers @ @ @ @ @ after flights .
The early stages of the plans have mostly focused on talks with @ @ @ @ @ Germany , the Journal reported .
The major hurdle to proceeding with reopening is reportedly @ @ @ @ @ infection rates .
Currently , U.S. travelers are effectively banned from entering the European Union @ @ @ @ @ quarantine if entering the UK .
Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents in the EU @ @ @ @ @ to the states .
A timeline for restarting travel remains unclear and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ will progress this winter .
A Transportation Department told the Journal that the agency was @ @ @ @ @ moving forward .

U.S. officials are reportedly looking to restart quarantine-free air travel between major international destinations — with flights between New York City and London possibly starting this holiday season.
Sources told The Wall Street Journal the Trump administration is exploring the option thanks to increasing availability of coronavirus tests in the United States.
Any travel corridors would require fliers to be tested before and after flights.
The early stages of the plans have mostly focused on talks with officials in the U.K. and Germany, the Journal reported.
The major hurdle to proceeding with reopening is reportedly America’s persistently high infection rates.
Currently, U.S. travelers are effectively banned from entering the European Union and must face a 14-day quarantine if entering the UK.
Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents in the EU are allowed to travel back to the states.
A timeline for restarting travel remains unclear and it’s still uncertain how infection rates will progress this winter.
A Transportation Department told the Journal that the agency was ready to support the initiative moving forward.


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Bill Burr Tackles Cancel Culture For His ‘SNL’ Debut, While ‘The Fly’ Has Jim Carrey Bidin’ His Best

Bill Burr Tackles Cancel Culture For His ‘SNL’ Debut, While ‘The Fly’ Has Jim Carrey Bidin’ His Best Jeff Goldblum

Last week felt like an exercise in futility , as Saturday Night Live went through the motions of producing and critiquing a sketch comedy show as if the real-life events of the preceding 24 hours weren ’ t more ridiculous than anything they already had prepped for broadcast .
This week , we needn ’ t worry about such nonsense , need we ?
Shhh , we ’ ll get to Morgan Wallen in a moment .
But first , a casual observation : What did President Trump ’ s rally Saturday afternoon from his White House balcony have in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They both had to pay their audiences !
Jokes .
What , you ’ re going to cancel me , now ?
That reminds me of a running theme we ’ re about to all explore together… What ’ s The Deal With The SNL Cold Open for 10/10/20 ?
Last week ’ s season premiere opened with an interminably long 14-minute cold open about the first ( and perhaps only ) presidential debate between President Trump and former Vice President Biden , and everybody knew the first and definitely only VP debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kick off this episode .
Only suckers would bet against SNL swatting at that fly on Pence ’ s head , but what about his pink eye ?
As the episode ’ s voiceover intro set up the premise that the debates would change absolutely nobody ’ s minds politically , it ’ s also fair to say that the SNL parody of the debate wouldn ’ t win anyone over on the show ’ s approach to satire who wasn ’ t already on board .
When Tiny Fey first parroted Sarah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transcripts in 2008 , it was fresh and funny .
Twelve years later , this particular SNL tactic has worn out its welcome and then some .
And yet .
With Kate McKinnon version of moderator Susan Page having even less to do than Page herself , and Pence ’ s dullness ( which may work strategically well in debates and interviews , but also provided little wiggle room for Beck Bennett comedically ) killing the mood , it ’ s left to Maya Rudolph ’ s facial expressions to carry the sketch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one attempt to heighten the actual political discourse , yes-and-ing Sen. Harris ’ s line asking if we kept calm when we had to buy toilet paper .
But eight minutes in , they cut to Jim Carrey as Biden , watching from home ( with Heidi Gardner as Jill Biden ) , and wanting to teleport into the debate .
Did someone say cue the teleport chamber scene from Jeff Goldblum ’ s 1986 movie , The Fly ?
Carrey dropped whatever Biden impersonation we think he thinks he ’ s doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I could begin to tell you my theory on SNL ‘ s advertorial content , Kenan Thompson is forced to show up as the late Herman Cain reincarnated as a second fly on Pence ’ s head , and suddenly we ’ re all doubly glad there might not be any more debates this election season to sit through or try to parody .
How Did The ‘ SNL ’ Guest Host Bill Burr Do ?
Stand-up comedians generally shine on SNL thanks to not needing the writers to craft them a monologue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best stand-ups rusty , as we all saw with Chris Rock last week .
Certainly Bill Burr would be ready , right ?
Then again , he ’ s a first-timer on SNL , so everything is new to him , whether or not 30 Rock was on lockdown .
My Twitter feed served up an extremely split decision on Burr , reminding me that even a comedian who has sold out Madison Square Garden , released four Netflix specials , acted on both Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firefighter in Pete Davidson ’ s movie , The King of Staten Island , can somehow still be unknown to many viewers who aren ’ t voraciously consuming pop culture .
Burr ’ s monologue opened with a play on one of his most consistent premises over the past decade , as he dreamed about thinning the herd to prevent overpopulation for years before COVID-19 came along .
So you not wearing a mask only helps him .
He also used the sucker-punching of Rick Moranis as a literal punchline to boast : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” with the city reclaiming its grittiness to balance out the M & M store replacing seedy porn houses of Times Square .
Where Burr started to lose the social media followers he never had in the first place came after he joked about cancel culture going after the likes of John Wayne now , saying “ God did that 40 years ago ” and that anyone born in Wayne ’ s era espoused uncomfortable opinions about race and religion .
With a pause to note the silence in the studio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reference for fans of his Monday Morning Podcast , Burr pivoted to mock white women , claiming they had “ hijacked the woke movement ” and told them to “ shut up , sit down next to me and take your talking to ” for cooperating in racial injustices over the centuries .
Comedians in my feed loved it .
White women , not so much .
Burr certainly was attempting to thread a needle here , needling not just women for co-opting social justice from Black Americans , but then by trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ+ community .
Maybe saying you ’ re 52 and had never heard of Gay Pride month before 2019 despite having performed stand-up in Greenwich Village throughout the 1990s and 2000s , just maybe that might not help an audience listen to what you have to say next on the subject .
Even if your subsequent points have any humorous validity to them .
Not that anyone will actually cancel Burr over any of this , because they won ’ t .
That said , every live sketch Burr appeared in dealt with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staying current with language and cultural norms .
Since the SNL guest host usually has more sway than most people outside of Lorne Michaels in what sketches make it to air , cancel culture was something the show and Burr really wanted to call out this week .
Burr played one-half of a couple ( with McKinnon ) who , in their first gathering with friends out of quarantine , have their friends correcting them for their misheard terminology , whether they said “ unpresidented ” instead of unprecedented , or “ Noon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a following sketch , Burr played a TV sports commentator so caught up in his winning bet on the Bears-Bucs game from Thursday night that he ’ s not up to speed on the most recent Black man killed by police , and how torn up his Black co-hosts are about it .
And late in the episode , Burr played the head of an Italian crime family whose lieutenants chastise him for describing the ethnicity of the criminals who have taken over their turf , for calling them a bunch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for questioning the addition of a “ Black chick ” to the family ( played by newbie Punkie Johnson ) .
Somehow , # MafiaSoWhite made it onto the show a week after a W.A.P .
“ Woman As President ” joke .
I really think Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip was ahead of its time , and 30 Rock was behind it sometimes .
How Relevant Was The Musical Guest ?
Morgan Wallen was so relevant , he partied his way out of the gig this weekend by drunkenly kissing coeds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substitute musical Jack White .
Fun fact : White ’ s record label , Third Man Records , has put out a Burr stand-up comedy album on vinyl .
White ’ s trio may not have included Meg White on drums , but his first performance medley included a cover of Blind Willie Johnson ’ s 1928 recording “ Jesus is Coming Soon ” — a song about the pandemic of 1918-1920 , with lyrics such as “ Great disease was mighty and the people were sick everywhere .
It was an epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , we done told you , our God ’ s done warned you , Jesus coming soon.
” And for his second song , “ Lazaretto , ” White deployed a customized Eddie Van Halen guitar in tribute to Van Halen , who died this past week at age 65 .
Which Sketch Will We Be Sharing ?
Undoubtedly , “ wenowdis ” is entering the lexicon at least for the Twitterati , if not also for people off the socials , once they get a load of McKinnon ’ s latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own mental health .
Her medical expert , Dr. Wayne Wenowdis , dropped by the Weekend Update desk to talk presumably about Trump ’ s recovery from COVID-19 .
But not really .
She mostly threw around a bunch of “ we know dis ” answers before adding a “ why do dis ” or “ he do dis ” here and there , and finally cracking up Colin Jost before she , too , ultimately cracked .
Jost giggled uncomfortably , almost as if McKinnon had gone off script , even breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kate .
Kate .
Are you OK ?
” To which she chortled , and replied : “ I ’ m obviously not.
” “ This is such a crazy time , ” she told us all , and confessed that she was playing with her wigs and accents and came up with this doctor to put herself at ease , since she has no idea what ’ ll happen with the election , the pandemic , or anything else for that matter .
Ultimately , this was all pretty much scripted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in disbelief afterward .
But it certainly got our attention , didn ’ t it ?
Who ( Else ) Stopped By Weekend Update ?
In addition to McKinnon , Pete Davidson stopped by Update for another chance to deliver commentary as himself .
But first , he also provided a timely update on his own status , considering Saturday was World Mental Health Day .
“ We out here and we crazy .
Go Giants !
Season starts tomorrow !
” he said of his New York NFL team , currently 0-4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SNL gave Davidson screen time , was it ?
No , no .
Speaking of cancel culture , Davidson wanted to let us know to count him among the many Harry Potter fans disappointed in author J.K. Rowling for her history of transphobic comments .
It was no Casey Affleck Dunkin ’ Donuts , but Bill Burr ’ s Bostonian representation for Sam Adams beer was a spiritual sequel to Affleck ’ s instant classic 2016 Dunkin ad for SNL , with Burr as “ Real Bostonian Sean S. ” being the lone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s pumpkin ale .
I do want to know more about his character ’ s backstory , though .
I bet he exists in the same TV universe with the guy who plays “ your cousin from Boston ” in the actual Sam Adams ads .
Who Was The Episode ’ s MVP ?
Bennett may have racked up the most screen time of any cast member this Saturday night ( from playing Pence in the cold open to his own starring video about a wannabe IG star to multiple supporting roles ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Update proved that she remains the show-stopping star of this show for now .
Sean L. McCarthy works the comedy beat for his own digital newspaper , The Comic ’ s Comic ; before that , for actual newspapers .
Based in NYC but will travel anywhere for the scoop : Ice cream or news .
He also tweets @ thecomicscomic and podcasts half-hour episodes with comedians revealing origin stories : The Comic ’ s Comic Presents Last Things First .

Last week felt like an exercise in futility, as Saturday Night Live went through the motions of producing and critiquing a sketch comedy show as if the real-life events of the preceding 24 hours weren’t more ridiculous than anything they already had prepped for broadcast.
This week, we needn’t worry about such nonsense, need we? Shhh, we’ll get to Morgan Wallen in a moment. But first, a casual observation: What did President Trump’s rally Saturday afternoon from his White House balcony have in common with SNL‘s taping? They both had to pay their audiences! Jokes. What, you’re going to cancel me, now? That reminds me of a running theme we’re about to all explore together…
What’s The Deal With The SNL Cold Open for 10/10/20?
Last week’s season premiere opened with an interminably long 14-minute cold open about the first (and perhaps only) presidential debate between President Trump and former Vice President Biden, and everybody knew the first and definitely only VP debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris would kick off this episode. Only suckers would bet against SNL swatting at that fly on Pence’s head, but what about his pink eye?
As the episode’s voiceover intro set up the premise that the debates would change absolutely nobody’s minds politically, it’s also fair to say that the SNL parody of the debate wouldn’t win anyone over on the show’s approach to satire who wasn’t already on board. When Tiny Fey first parroted Sarah Palin’s actual speech and interview transcripts in 2008, it was fresh and funny. Twelve years later, this particular SNL tactic has worn out its welcome and then some. And yet.
With Kate McKinnon version of moderator Susan Page having even less to do than Page herself, and Pence’s dullness (which may work strategically well in debates and interviews, but also provided little wiggle room for Beck Bennett comedically) killing the mood, it’s left to Maya Rudolph’s facial expressions to carry the sketch. Especially after the writers made only one attempt to heighten the actual political discourse, yes-and-ing Sen. Harris’s line asking if we kept calm when we had to buy toilet paper. But eight minutes in, they cut to Jim Carrey as Biden, watching from home (with Heidi Gardner as Jill Biden), and wanting to teleport into the debate. Did someone say cue the teleport chamber scene from Jeff Goldblum’s 1986 movie, The Fly? Carrey dropped whatever Biden impersonation we think he thinks he’s doing to spoof Goldblum instead, and before I could begin to tell you my theory on SNL‘s advertorial content, Kenan Thompson is forced to show up as the late Herman Cain reincarnated as a second fly on Pence’s head, and suddenly we’re all doubly glad there might not be any more debates this election season to sit through or try to parody.
How Did The ‘SNL’ Guest Host Bill Burr Do?
Stand-up comedians generally shine on SNL thanks to not needing the writers to craft them a monologue, but 2020 has made even the best stand-ups rusty, as we all saw with Chris Rock last week. Certainly Bill Burr would be ready, right? Then again, he’s a first-timer on SNL, so everything is new to him, whether or not 30 Rock was on lockdown.
My Twitter feed served up an extremely split decision on Burr, reminding me that even a comedian who has sold out Madison Square Garden, released four Netflix specials, acted on both Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian, as well as being lauded for his turn as a firefighter in Pete Davidson’s movie, The King of Staten Island, can somehow still be unknown to many viewers who aren’t voraciously consuming pop culture. Burr’s monologue opened with a play on one of his most consistent premises over the past decade, as he dreamed about thinning the herd to prevent overpopulation for years before COVID-19 came along. So you not wearing a mask only helps him. He also used the sucker-punching of Rick Moranis as a literal punchline to boast: “New York is back, baby!” with the city reclaiming its grittiness to balance out the M&M store replacing seedy porn houses of Times Square.
Where Burr started to lose the social media followers he never had in the first place came after he joked about cancel culture going after the likes of John Wayne now, saying “God did that 40 years ago” and that anyone born in Wayne’s era espoused uncomfortable opinions about race and religion. With a pause to note the silence in the studio, and a “Plowing ahead!” reference for fans of his Monday Morning Podcast, Burr pivoted to mock white women, claiming they had “hijacked the woke movement” and told them to “shut up, sit down next to me and take your talking to” for cooperating in racial injustices over the centuries. Comedians in my feed loved it. White women, not so much. Burr certainly was attempting to thread a needle here, needling not just women for co-opting social justice from Black Americans, but then by trying to make the same case against the LGBTQ+ community. Maybe saying you’re 52 and had never heard of Gay Pride month before 2019 despite having performed stand-up in Greenwich Village throughout the 1990s and 2000s, just maybe that might not help an audience listen to what you have to say next on the subject. Even if your subsequent points have any humorous validity to them. Not that anyone will actually cancel Burr over any of this, because they won’t.
That said, every live sketch Burr appeared in dealt with the idea of being reprimanded for not staying current with language and cultural norms. Since the SNL guest host usually has more sway than most people outside of Lorne Michaels in what sketches make it to air, cancel culture was something the show and Burr really wanted to call out this week.
Burr played one-half of a couple (with McKinnon) who, in their first gathering with friends out of quarantine, have their friends correcting them for their misheard terminology, whether they said “unpresidented” instead of unprecedented, or “Noon normal” instead of new normal. In a following sketch, Burr played a TV sports commentator so caught up in his winning bet on the Bears-Bucs game from Thursday night that he’s not up to speed on the most recent Black man killed by police, and how torn up his Black co-hosts are about it. And late in the episode, Burr played the head of an Italian crime family whose lieutenants chastise him for describing the ethnicity of the criminals who have taken over their turf, for calling them a bunch of “queers” over that, and for questioning the addition of a “Black chick” to the family (played by newbie Punkie Johnson). Somehow, #MafiaSoWhite made it onto the show a week after a W.A.P. “Woman As President” joke. I really think Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip was ahead of its time, and 30 Rock was behind it sometimes.
How Relevant Was The Musical Guest?
Morgan Wallen was so relevant, he partied his way out of the gig this weekend by drunkenly kissing coeds in Alabama last weekend.
Insert hero substitute musical Jack White. Fun fact: White’s record label, Third Man Records, has put out a Burr stand-up comedy album on vinyl.
White’s trio may not have included Meg White on drums, but his first performance medley included a cover of Blind Willie Johnson’s 1928 recording “Jesus is Coming Soon” — a song about the pandemic of 1918-1920, with lyrics such as “Great disease was mighty and the people were sick everywhere. It was an epidemic, it floated through the air. Well, we done told you, our God’s done warned you, Jesus coming soon.”
And for his second song, “Lazaretto,” White deployed a customized Eddie Van Halen guitar in tribute to Van Halen, who died this past week at age 65.
Which Sketch Will We Be Sharing?
Undoubtedly, “wenowdis” is entering the lexicon at least for the Twitterati, if not also for people off the socials, once they get a load of McKinnon’s latest character, cooked up especially for her own mental health. Her medical expert, Dr. Wayne Wenowdis, dropped by the Weekend Update desk to talk presumably about Trump’s recovery from COVID-19. But not really. She mostly threw around a bunch of “we know dis” answers before adding a “why do dis” or “he do dis” here and there, and finally cracking up Colin Jost before she, too, ultimately cracked.
Jost giggled uncomfortably, almost as if McKinnon had gone off script, even breaking the fourth wall to ask: “Kate. Kate. Are you OK?” To which she chortled, and replied: “I’m obviously not.”
“This is such a crazy time,” she told us all, and confessed that she was playing with her wigs and accents and came up with this doctor to put herself at ease, since she has no idea what’ll happen with the election, the pandemic, or anything else for that matter. Ultimately, this was all pretty much scripted, as even Michael Che shook his head in disbelief afterward. But it certainly got our attention, didn’t it?
Who (Else) Stopped By Weekend Update?
In addition to McKinnon, Pete Davidson stopped by Update for another chance to deliver commentary as himself. But first, he also provided a timely update on his own status, considering Saturday was World Mental Health Day. “We out here and we crazy. Go Giants! Season starts tomorrow!” he said of his New York NFL team, currently 0-4.
But that’s not why SNL gave Davidson screen time, was it? No, no. Speaking of cancel culture, Davidson wanted to let us know to count him among the many Harry Potter fans disappointed in author J.K. Rowling for her history of transphobic comments.
What Sketch Filled The “10-to-1” Slot?
It was no Casey Affleck Dunkin’ Donuts, but Bill Burr’s Bostonian representation for Sam Adams beer was a spiritual sequel to Affleck’s instant classic 2016 Dunkin ad for SNL, with Burr as “Real Bostonian Sean S.” being the lone local to spit out the brewery’s pumpkin ale. I do want to know more about his character’s backstory, though. I bet he exists in the same TV universe with the guy who plays “your cousin from Boston” in the actual Sam Adams ads.
Who Was The Episode’s MVP?
Bennett may have racked up the most screen time of any cast member this Saturday night (from playing Pence in the cold open to his own starring video about a wannabe IG star to multiple supporting roles), but McKinnon’s fourth-wall breaking on Update proved that she remains the show-stopping star of this show for now.
Next week, Issa Rae hosts with musical guest Justin Bieber!
Sean L. McCarthy works the comedy beat for his own digital newspaper, The Comic’s Comic; before that, for actual newspapers. Based in NYC but will travel anywhere for the scoop: Ice cream or news. He also tweets @thecomicscomic and podcasts half-hour episodes with comedians revealing origin stories: The Comic’s Comic Presents Last Things First.
Watch SNL Season 46 Episode 2 on YouTube


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--First death linked to Hurricane Delta is 86-year-old Louisiana man

The death of an 86-year-old man in Louisiana on Sunday was the first fatality linked to the since-downgraded Hurricane Delta @ @ @ @ @ elderly victim died in a fire that ignited from the refueling of a generator , @ @ @ @ @ Edwards said .
“ If you are using a generator , please be safe , @ @ @ @ @ .
Delta made landfall as a Category 2 storm on Friday near the southwestern Louisiana @ @ @ @ @ the second hurricane in the past six weeks to slam the area .
By Sunday @ @ @ @ @ to a post-tropical cyclone .
Its remnants were well inland , heading from the southern @ @ @ @ @ .
Delta knocked out power to more than 600,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana , @ @ @ @ @ briefing .
But by Sunday , power was restored to about half those customers .
@ @ @ @ @ Laura devastated parts of Louisiana , making landfall as a Category 4 storm .

The death of an 86-year-old man in Louisiana on Sunday was the first fatality linked to the since-downgraded Hurricane Delta, officials said.
The elderly victim died in a fire that ignited from the refueling of a generator, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said.
“If you are using a generator, please be safe,” Edwards warned on Twitter.
Delta made landfall as a Category 2 storm on Friday near the southwestern Louisiana town of Creole, becoming the second hurricane in the past six weeks to slam the area.
By Sunday, the storm was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone. Its remnants were well inland, heading from the southern Appalachians up the east coast.
Delta knocked out power to more than 600,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana, Edwards said in a press briefing. But by Sunday, power was restored to about half those customers.
In late August, Hurricane Laura devastated parts of Louisiana, making landfall as a Category 4 storm.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Giants’ Lorenzo Carter may be done for season after serious injury

For a while there , you were asking yourself : Who were ...

One of the Giants’ best players did not last long on the field in Sunday’s 37-34 loss to the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. And it looks like outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter could be gone for the season.
Carter injured his left Achilles tendon with 11:23 left in the first quarter. It looked to be a non-contact injury, and as he was getting carted off the field, Carter gave a thumbs-up to his teammates.
Achilles injuries are rarely anything other than long term. Losing Carter will be a huge blow to the defense, as the third-year player is one of the top pass rushers and run pursuers on the roster.
Carter’s absence forced defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to put Markus Golden on the field. Golden has struggled to get snaps with this coaching staff after recording a team-high 10 sacks in 2019. Golden had a first half sack of Dak Prescott.
The Giants are without Oshane Ximines, who is on injured reserve with a shoulder issue for at least two more games. Golden and Kyler Fackrell are the two healthy outside linebackers. Rookie Cam Brown is waiting in the wings.
The Giants received some rare good news before the game when strong safety Jabrill Peppers made it through warm-ups and was ruled active.
Peppers, who never comes off the field when healthy, missed the Week 4 loss to the Rams with an ankle injury and was limited in practice all week and listed as questionable.
Peppers did not start, though, giving way to Adrian Colbert. Peppers was relieved of his punt-return duties by Golden Tate, to protect his ankle from excessive wear and tear.
FB Eli Penny, seldom-used on offense, got his first rushing attempt of the season late in the first quarter. He gained 2 yards on third-and-1 to keep alive a drive that ended with a field goal.
Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett exchanged a group hug on the field during warm-ups with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and general manager Stephen Jones. Garrett also exchanged pleasantries with Prescott. Garrett was Cowboys head coach from 2011-19 before his contract was not renewed after last season. The good vibes dissipated when Garrett ran out onto the field and “Intruder Alert’’ was shown on the video screens.
Most of the Cowboys’ bulldozing offensive line did not make it to the field, with three of their starters — Tyron Smith, Joe Looney and La’el Collins — out with injuries. They were replaced by Brandon Knight at left tackle, Tyler Biadasz at center and Terence Steele at right tackle. Knight and Steele are undrafted free agents.
LB Blake Martinez entered Week 5 with 43 tackles, tying him with Zach Cunningham of the Texans for second in the NFL behind the Vikings’ Eric Kendricks. … Giants inactives: LB T.J. Brunson, OL Jackson Barton, TE Eric Tomlinson and DL RJ McIntosh.


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--‘The Spanish Princess’ Season 2 Premiere Sets the Stage for Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s Tra

‘The Spanish Princess’ Season 2 Premiere Sets the Stage for Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s Tragic Romance

The Spanish Princess Season 2 premiere on Starz started with utter ecstasy for Catherine of Aragon ( Charlotte Hope ) and young Henry VIII ( Ruairi O ’ Connor ) and ended in utter agony .
After fighting so hard to be together in The Spanish Princess Season 1 , Catherine and Henry seem to be on top of the world in their own self-made “ Camelot.
” However , when their beloved son and heir Henry suddenly dies in infancy , their future — and their bond — is put in immediate peril .
So it is that The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to watch two soulmates somehow fall deeply out of love .
Season 1 of Starz ’ s The Spanish Princess showed us a completely new side of Henry VIII : the sweet , sexy , romantic one .
While most people envision the infamous Tudor monarch as a monster divorcing , bedding , and beheading wives left and right , the truth was much more complicated .
Historically , young Henry was very much in love with his first wife , Catherine of Aragon .
That ’ s the story Starz ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with telling .
This season , though , the two will wind up struggling with infertility in a time that didn ’ t understand the medical condition .
Moreover , Henry and Catherine will also have to confront the cutthroat nature of global politics , the bitter sting of personal jealousy , and the lofty expectations put upon them both to be perfect monarchs .
As audiences will see , these pressures will conspire together to take a toll on their marriage .
“ The marriage didn ’ t go wrong because [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he became a monster because the marriage went wrong , ” The Spanish Princess ‘ s creator and co-showrunner Emma Frost told Decider recently .
“ So I think what we wanted to do was really celebrate the fact that actually , in truth , she was the love of life .
They were married for 24 years.
” “ There were much better wives , on paper , than Catherine , ” Frost added .
“ So there ’ s a huge amount of evidence for the fact that their love was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real passion there .
Even when he got crowned — he had her crowned right next to him .
It was unprecedented .
They were equals .
So I think we would be doing them a massive disservice and playing into the stereotype in history if we said it was a downward spiral .
It really wasn ’ t .
There was a lot of love .
And there ’ s a lot of nuance , I think , on the way .
And we tried to enjoy that too.
” The Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What we didn ’ t want to do was create a trajectory from Episode 1 to Episode 8 that was just a downhill spiral .
Obviously there ’ s a lot of tragedy , here ’ s a lot of despair .
But there ’ s also a topography , where bad things happen and then Catherine fights to pull her marriage together .
Henry tries to meet her halfway.
” Henry certainly tries , but as The Spanish Princess Season 2 shows , he flails when it comes to being a supportive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked star Ruairi O ’ Connor where he thought Henry ’ s empathy gap originated and he offered his own empathetic answer .
“ Certainly , as it goes on , he lacks empathy for what Catherine ’ s going through , how it could be a really individually painful situation for her .
But I think he also shuts down [ because of ] what a painful situation it is for him , as a human , ” O ’ Connor said .
“ The first thing that comes to mind when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I need to go to a grief counselor and get over this .
If I possibly can.
’ It ’ s very hard for anyone to do that .
But it ’ s that , ‘ Fuck .
I ’ m going to have my head cut off .
And everybody I love is going to be killed , probably . '
” “ You don ’ t retire as the King .
You ’ re retired .
You ’ re not walking around for long after that point , ” O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns .
For The Spanish Princess star Charlotte Hope , playing a woman struggling with both infant mortality and , later , miscarriages became something of a call to arms .
She wanted to depict the emotional horror of maternal grief not just to honor those who have lived with it , but to wrangle with her own feelings about it .
“ It feels really important to me that we talk about miscarriage , and we talk about the breakdown of relationships .
As well as , as an actor , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hope said , noting that she got “ porous ” as an actor , letting the heft of the material seep into her .
So much so , Hope shared that it came up in her personal therapy sessions .
“ I ’ d also , weirdly , just played another woman that miscarried a child .
There was a point , to my therapist , where I was like , ‘ Is the universe trying to tell me something here ?
Because this is a year of playing women that miscarry children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I worry a lot , in my real life , about if I ’ m going to be able to have children .
I feel like this is some kind of universe stuff going on , and that makes me quite nervous .
[ My therapist ] obviously unpacked that for me , and we worked that through in the subsequent months.
” “ But yeah : I ’ m actually really grateful for the dark places that we go to in this season , ” Hope said .
“ I feel like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell a story about a woman that goes through that much trauma , it is your responsibility to do it fucking honestly .
Because I know women that have been through that .
And it is unthinkable.
” Indeed , The Spanish Princess Season 2 delves into the triumphs and tragedies of Henry and Catherine ’ s marriage without turning away from the horror of their sorrows .
It means the show isn ’ t just tonally different for the audience , but the actors , as well .
According to Ruairi O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was rompy .
We tore it apart in this season .
I think me and Charlotte , we spent a lot of time with each other during lockdown…before Season 2 together .
Our relationship had moved on , become a bit heavier .
We would bicker a lot more , kind of like an old married couple.
” “ We were bickering like an old married couple in Season 1 , ” Charlotte Hope quipped with a laugh to Decider .
“ We were ready to go at each other.
” And go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While history nerds might already be dreading what ’ s to come in Henry and Catherine ’ s relationship , The Spanish Princess ‘ s showrunners wanted to make it clear that it wouldn ’ t all be doom and gloom in Season 2 .
Right down to the series finale… “ Although it ’ s going to end in a way that , obviously , history buffs and fans of the show will probably guess — emotionally , it ’ s probably going to leave you in a maybe a slightly different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left , ” Matthew Graham said .
Where to stream The Spanish Princess

The Spanish Princess Season 2 premiere on Starz started with utter ecstasy for Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) and young Henry VIII (Ruairi O’Connor) and ended in utter agony. After fighting so hard to be together in The Spanish Princess Season 1, Catherine and Henry seem to be on top of the world in their own self-made “Camelot.” However, when their beloved son and heir Henry suddenly dies in infancy, their future — and their bond — is put in immediate peril. So it is that The Spanish Princess Season 2 is setting us up to watch two soulmates somehow fall deeply out of love.
Season 1 of Starz’s The Spanish Princess showed us a completely new side of Henry VIII: the sweet, sexy, romantic one. While most people envision the infamous Tudor monarch as a monster divorcing, bedding, and beheading wives left and right, the truth was much more complicated. Historically, young Henry was very much in love with his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. That’s the story Starz’s The Spanish Princess has been focused with telling. This season, though, the two will wind up struggling with infertility in a time that didn’t understand the medical condition. Moreover, Henry and Catherine will also have to confront the cutthroat nature of global politics, the bitter sting of personal jealousy, and the lofty expectations put upon them both to be perfect monarchs. As audiences will see, these pressures will conspire together to take a toll on their marriage.
“The marriage didn’t go wrong because [Henry VIII] was a monster; he became a monster because the marriage went wrong,” The Spanish Princess‘s creator and co-showrunner Emma Frost told Decider recently. “So I think what we wanted to do was really celebrate the fact that actually, in truth, she was the love of life. They were married for 24 years.”
“There were much better wives, on paper, than Catherine,” Frost added. “So there’s a huge amount of evidence for the fact that their love was very real, and there was a real passion there. Even when he got crowned — he had her crowned right next to him. It was unprecedented. They were equals. So I think we would be doing them a massive disservice and playing into the stereotype in history if we said it was a downward spiral. It really wasn’t. There was a lot of love. And there’s a lot of nuance, I think, on the way. And we tried to enjoy that too.”
“The marriage didn’t go wrong because [Henry VIII] was a monster; he became a monster because the marriage went wrong.” – Emma Frost
The Spanish Princess co-showrunner Matthew Graham concurred. “What we didn’t want to do was create a trajectory from Episode 1 to Episode 8 that was just a downhill spiral. Obviously there’s a lot of tragedy, here’s a lot of despair. But there’s also a topography, where bad things happen and then Catherine fights to pull her marriage together. Henry tries to meet her halfway.”
Henry certainly tries, but as The Spanish Princess Season 2 shows, he flails when it comes to being a supportive partner to a grieving wife. Decider asked star Ruairi O’Connor where he thought Henry’s empathy gap originated and he offered his own empathetic answer.
“Certainly, as it goes on, he lacks empathy for what Catherine’s going through, how it could be a really individually painful situation for her. But I think he also shuts down [because of] what a painful situation it is for him, as a human,” O’Connor said. “The first thing that comes to mind when his child dies is not, ‘I need to go to a grief counselor and get over this. If I possibly can.’ It’s very hard for anyone to do that. But it’s that, ‘Fuck. I’m going to have my head cut off. And everybody I love is going to be killed, probably.'”
“You don’t retire as the King. You’re retired. You’re not walking around for long after that point,” O’Connor said, underlining Henry’s concerns.
“If you’re going to tell a story about a woman that goes through that much trauma, it is your responsibility to do it fucking honestly.” – Charlotte Hope
For The Spanish Princess star Charlotte Hope, playing a woman struggling with both infant mortality and, later, miscarriages became something of a call to arms. She wanted to depict the emotional horror of maternal grief not just to honor those who have lived with it, but to wrangle with her own feelings about it.
“It feels really important to me that we talk about miscarriage, and we talk about the breakdown of relationships. As well as, as an actor, that stuff’s really juicy,” Hope said, noting that she got “porous” as an actor, letting the heft of the material seep into her. So much so, Hope shared that it came up in her personal therapy sessions.
“I’d also, weirdly, just played another woman that miscarried a child. There was a point, to my therapist, where I was like, ‘Is the universe trying to tell me something here? Because this is a year of playing women that miscarry children,” Hope said. “And I worry a lot, in my real life, about if I’m going to be able to have children. I feel like this is some kind of universe stuff going on, and that makes me quite nervous. [My therapist] obviously unpacked that for me, and we worked that through in the subsequent months.”
“But yeah: I’m actually really grateful for the dark places that we go to in this season,” Hope said. “I feel like, if you’re going to tell a story about a woman that goes through that much trauma, it is your responsibility to do it fucking honestly. Because I know women that have been through that. And it is unthinkable.”
“The first thing that comes to mind when his child dies is not, ‘I need to go to a grief counselor’…. But it’s that, ‘Fuck. I’m going to have my head cut off.'” – Ruairi O’Connor
Indeed, The Spanish Princess Season 2 delves into the triumphs and tragedies of Henry and Catherine’s marriage without turning away from the horror of their sorrows. It means the show isn’t just tonally different for the audience, but the actors, as well.
According to Ruairi O’Connor, “The first season was rompy. We tore it apart in this season. I think me and Charlotte, we spent a lot of time with each other during lockdown…before Season 2 together. Our relationship had moved on, become a bit heavier. We would bicker a lot more, kind of like an old married couple.”
“We were bickering like an old married couple in Season 1,” Charlotte Hope quipped with a laugh to Decider. “We were ready to go at each other.”
And go at each other, they do. While history nerds might already be dreading what’s to come in Henry and Catherine’s relationship, The Spanish Princess‘s showrunners wanted to make it clear that it wouldn’t all be doom and gloom in Season 2. Right down to the series finale…
“Although it’s going to end in a way that, obviously, history buffs and fans of the show will probably guess — emotionally, it’s probably going to leave you in a maybe a slightly different place then you thought you would be left,” Matthew Graham said.
Where to stream The Spanish Princess


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--The Giants got what they deserved

The Giants got what they deserved

Birds fly .
Fish swim .
The sun rises in the East ...

For a while there, you were asking yourself: Who were those guys?
Who were those guys in blue?
Who were those guys punching the Cowboys in the nose?
Who were those guys representing their blue-collar fans with such blue-collar relentlessness?
Who was that offensive coordinator calling for sweeps and screens, who apparently had been playing possum with play-calling so unimaginative that it made you wonder whether he was saving his best stuff for Jerry Jones and his old Cowboys friends?
Was that really Jason Garrett?
Who were those guys finding the end zone for the first time in 20 drives without the need for a GPS on an end-around to Evan Engram?
They were imposters.
Because then they remembered who the New York Football Giants truly are.
And when Winning Time arrived, they had no idea what to do.
Here was Daniel Jones’ chance.
One minute, 50 seconds and one timeout left, his 24-yard line.
Giants 34, Cowboys 34.
Under too much duress, he couldn’t play the hero.
Couldn’t march his team down the field to win it.
And after Andy Dalton found Michael Gallup deep down the right sideline against Ryan Lewis, Greg Zuerlein booted the Giants, 37-34 losers, out of their misery.
Dalton was the quarterback because a tearful Dak Prescott had been knocked out in the third quarter and was undergoing surgery for a broken ankle.
Think about that: Big Blue could not stop Andy Dalton with a little over a minute left and the game on the line.
The Giants deserve to be 0-5.
They deserve to be 0-5 because they gave us a comedy of errors that won’t have Joe Judge laughing, because the last thing he wants and needs this team to do is beat itself.
And so the Giants got what they deserved, a dispiriting 37-34 defeat.
The Giants deserve to be 0-5.
The comedy of errors, please:
Daniel Jones is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence (thank you Andrew Thomas) and Anthony Brown returns the fumble for a 29-yard TD.
Giants 17, Cowboys 17.
Turnover No. 31 for Jones in 17 games. Lost fumble No. 14.
A fake field goal Riley Dixon-to-Evan Engram TD is negated by an illegal shift called on Cameron Fleming.
Judge slams his headset down in disgust, disbelief or both.
Field goal instead of touchdown.
Jones finds Darius Slayton wide open with a 31-yard TD pass.
Flag.
Offensive interference on Damion Ratley.
Field goal instead of touchdown.
Jones had clawed back from Cowboys 31, Giants 23 with a 39-yard strike to Slayton that positioned the automatic Graham Gano FG.
Jones fired a third-and-6 bullet over the middle to Slayton after Blake Martinez had recovered an aborted Dalton fumble at the Dallas 17 and hard-running Devonta Freeman made it Giants 34, Cowboys 31.
Joe Judge has done the job winning the respect of the locker room with his football knowledge and with his teaching and with his relationship building.
And that is a big part of the job description, especially for a franchise that has fallen and can’t get up and has forgotten how to win.
But it isn’t enough to fight like hell.
No medals for trying, or for fighting either.
The Giants still have yet to learn how to win.
And got what they deserved.


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Enormous pro-Biden display made of hay bales set ablaze in Massachusetts

An enormous Joe Biden display made from 19 bales of hay was set ablaze across from a Massachusetts farm on Friday , a report said .
The political message , which read “ USA — Vote Biden Harris 2020 , ” was built by Dicken Crane , owner of Holiday Brook Farm , and a few other helpers a day before it was torched , Boston 25 News reported .
Dalton police on Saturday announced the arrest of 49-year-old suspect Lonnie Durfe , who was charged with arson .
“ The guy who did this was bragging in a bar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of a whole bunch of people and then when he went to the gas station to get the gas , he was bragging there that he was going to do it , ” Crane told the news station .
Crane said the idea to construct the massive display came about after other area signs in support of Biden ’ s campaign were reported stolen .
“ We were seeing a lot of big Trump banners and only a few little small Biden signs that people kept complaining were being stolen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to steal 1,200-pound round bales , ” said Crane .
Crane conceded he anticipated to attract some troublemakers , but nothing like what came to be .
“ We expected there might be some vandalism , but we never expected somebody would douse it with gasoline and set it on fire , ” said Crane .
“ It was very worrisome somebody would set those bales on fire , you had to wonder whether he would be willing to set a barn on fire.
” The farmer told the outlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a more neutral display that reads , “ Vote.
” “ I ’ m hoping this will become something that actually brings people together , not pushes us apart , ” he said .

An enormous Joe Biden display made from 19 bales of hay was set ablaze across from a Massachusetts farm on Friday, a report said.
The political message, which read “USA — Vote Biden Harris 2020,” was built by Dicken Crane, owner of Holiday Brook Farm, and a few other helpers a day before it was torched, Boston 25 News reported.
Dalton police on Saturday announced the arrest of 49-year-old suspect Lonnie Durfe, who was charged with arson.
“The guy who did this was bragging in a bar that he was going to do it in front of a whole bunch of people and then when he went to the gas station to get the gas, he was bragging there that he was going to do it,” Crane told the news station.
Crane said the idea to construct the massive display came about after other area signs in support of Biden’s campaign were reported stolen.
“We were seeing a lot of big Trump banners and only a few little small Biden signs that people kept complaining were being stolen, so we got the idea no one’s going to steal 1,200-pound round bales,” said Crane.
Crane conceded he anticipated to attract some troublemakers, but nothing like what came to be.
“We expected there might be some vandalism, but we never expected somebody would douse it with gasoline and set it on fire,” said Crane. “It was very worrisome somebody would set those bales on fire, you had to wonder whether he would be willing to set a barn on fire.”
The farmer told the outlet he planned to replace the scorched sign with a more neutral display that reads, “Vote.”
“I’m hoping this will become something that actually brings people together, not pushes us apart,” he said.


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Yankees broadcaster Jack Curry missed playoffs due to COVID-19 diagnosis

Yankees broadcaster Jack Curry revealed in a video posted to Twitter on Sunday that he missed the first two rounds of the 2020 MLB playoffs due to contracting the coronavirus .
The YES Network analyst warned his 111,000-plus followers to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously .
“ Hey everyone , if the Yankees had made it to the ALCS I would ’ ve been back to work tonight with my talented YES Network colleagues , ” he said .
But of course , we know that did not happen .
Still , I wanted to make this video to respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my absence during the first two rounds of the playoffs .
“ Unfortunately , after the regular season ended I tested positive for the coronavirus , it was a scary and surreal time .
But I ’ m happy to report that I ’ m feeling a lot better .
I want to thank everyone at the YES Network for the tremendous support that I received , it was a daily barrage of text messages , emails , phone calls , it was overwhelming , it was very meaningful and I very much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in separated rooms at Yankee Stadium during broadcasts , while Paul O ’ Neill worked from home .
The 55-year-old Curry , who works the Yankees ’ pregame and postgame shows , has been with YES Network since 2010 .
He was part of YES ’ s Emmy Award-winning Yankee coverage in 2011 and is also a columnist for the network ’ s website .
“ I want to thank all of you who reached out and asked me how I was doing , ” Curry said .
“ Stay safe , be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions plus 100 more and this virus still found me .
I ’ m very much looking forward to being back talking baseball.
” The Yankees were eliminated by the Rays last week in the ALDS .

Yankees broadcaster Jack Curry revealed in a video posted to Twitter on Sunday that he missed the first two rounds of the 2020 MLB playoffs due to contracting the coronavirus.
The YES Network analyst warned his 111,000-plus followers to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously.
“Hey everyone, if the Yankees had made it to the ALCS I would’ve been back to work tonight with my talented YES Network colleagues,” he said. But of course, we know that did not happen. Still, I wanted to make this video to respond to several of you who inquired about my absence during the first two rounds of the playoffs.
“Unfortunately, after the regular season ended I tested positive for the coronavirus, it was a scary and surreal time. But I’m happy to report that I’m feeling a lot better. I want to thank everyone at the YES Network for the tremendous support that I received, it was a daily barrage of text messages, emails, phone calls, it was overwhelming, it was very meaningful and I very much appreciate it.”
YES commentators were placed in separated rooms at Yankee Stadium during broadcasts, while Paul O’Neill worked from home.
The 55-year-old Curry, who works the Yankees’ pregame and postgame shows, has been with YES Network since 2010. He was part of YES’s Emmy Award-winning Yankee coverage in 2011 and is also a columnist for the network’s website.
“I want to thank all of you who reached out and asked me how I was doing,” Curry said. “Stay safe, be smart, I sure took all the precautions plus 100 more and this virus still found me. I’m very much looking forward to being back talking baseball.”
The Yankees were eliminated by the Rays last week in the ALDS.


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Dak Prescott’s brother shares emotional message from hospital

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is expected to miss the rest ...

Dak Prescott’s brother Tad delivered an emotional and hopeful message on social media after the Cowboys quarterback suffered a compound fracture of his right ankle Sunday.
“God is good, and he’ll be back STRONGER than ever,” Tad Prescott wrote on Twitter along with a picture of him with a smiling Dak in his hospital room. “I [expletive] guarante3 IT. Let’s go @dak continue to walk by #FAITH & I’ll make sure you continue to #FIGHT.”
Dak Prescott, 27, severely rolled his ankle while being tackled by Giants safety Logan Ryan in the third quarter of Dallas’ eventual 37-34 victory over Big Blue at AT&T Stadium. He was carted off the field in pain and rushed to a Dallas hospital to have surgery.
Dak Prescott’s plight also resonated with former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, who suffered arguably the most gruesome leg injury in NFL history when he was sacked by Lawrence Taylor on “Monday Night Football” in 1985 and broke his fibula and tibia — ending his career.
“Feel for bad for Dak,” Theismann tweeted.
The injury came on the same day Washington Football quarterback Alex Smith played his first game since incurring a spiral and compound fracture to his right tibia and fibula in 2018.


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Erdogan’s proxy war in Armenia ugly echo of Turkey’s genocidal campaign century ago

Fostering a proxy war in in Armenia may serve Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s needs , but it ’ s an appalling echo of the genocide Turkey committed against Armenians a century ago .
On Sept. 27 , Azerbaijan resumed its conflict with Armenia , accusing it of unprovoked attacks .
At issue is the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave , a mountainous territory of 150,000 people ( mostly ethnic Armenians ) that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but claimed and governed by Armenia since an earlier war .
The Azeris are plainly the aggressors : They not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been modernizing their military with a huge assist from the Turks .
So Armenia ’ s destruction of a few of Azeri helicopters and tanks was likely the response to an incursion , as it claims .
Erdogan ’ s backing of Azerbaijan is a useful distraction from his sagging domestic economy , but it turns a long-standing local conflict into a bigger geopolitical competition .
Armenia can resist only with the backing of Russia , which has been fueling that side of the arms race — which means it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct conflict between Moscow and Ankara .
“ We are a step away from a large-scale war , ” says Olesya Vartanyan of the International Crisis Group , a nonprofit dedicated to preventing deadly conflicts .
While the United States , the European Union , the United Nations , NATO , Pope Francis and others have called for a ceasefire , Erdogan fans the growing fire , offering Azerbaijan unwavering support .
But it ’ s the history that makes this beyond horrific : Ankara still refuses to acknowledge its genocide of nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the First World War , and now it ’ s bent on slaughtering countless more .

Fostering a proxy war in in Armenia may serve Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s needs, but it’s an appalling echo of the genocide Turkey committed against Armenians a century ago.
On Sept. 27, Azerbaijan resumed its conflict with Armenia, accusing it of unprovoked attacks. At issue is the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, a mountainous territory of 150,000 people (mostly ethnic Armenians) that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but claimed and governed by Armenia since an earlier war.
The Azeris are plainly the aggressors: They not only outnumber the Armenians 3-to-1, they’ve been modernizing their military with a huge assist from the Turks.
So Armenia’s destruction of a few of Azeri helicopters and tanks was likely the response to an incursion, as it claims.
Erdogan’s backing of Azerbaijan is a useful distraction from his sagging domestic economy, but it turns a long-standing local conflict into a bigger geopolitical competition. Armenia can resist only with the backing of Russia, which has been fueling that side of the arms race — which means it’s just a step or two to direct conflict between Moscow and Ankara.
“We are a step away from a large-scale war,” says Olesya Vartanyan of the International Crisis Group, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing deadly conflicts.
While the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, NATO, Pope Francis and others have called for a ceasefire, Erdogan fans the growing fire, offering Azerbaijan unwavering support.
But it’s the history that makes this beyond horrific: Ankara still refuses to acknowledge its genocide of nearly 1.5 million Armenians at the end of the First World War, and now it’s bent on slaughtering countless more.


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Cuomo’s, de Blasio’s school shutdowns are breaking parents like me

This is .
.
.
school ?
After two delays and ...

As COVID-19 situations go, mine is relatively blessed. My job has always been work-from-home. My husband has been working from home since March and is a huge help. My kids are mostly well-behaved and competent. Two of my kids go to in-person schooling two to three days a week, one of the better blended models. My other child’s school has a well-developed virtual-learning program.
Yet I’m drowning.
We have alarms set all over the house, but we miss at least one virtual class a week. There is always a missing Zoom password or a Google Classroom that isn’t working. And the remote days are mostly busywork anyway.
We try to give the kids outdoor time, and time with their friends, so there’s a lot of “You take him to soccer!” met with “No, I’ve got a call — you take him to soccer!” We are always late for soccer.
Our sons go to the same school, but one starts 20 minutes later than the other and finishes 15 minutes earlier. It isn’t enough time to get home and back again, so every in-person day, one of us ends up spending 35 minutes standing outside the school building with a 4-year-old, forcing him to keep his mask on and not get too close to others.
It’s like putting socks on a rooster.
My husband and I somehow still like each other after spending every day of the last seven months together, but we aren’t immune from yelling, “I have to work!” at each other when the stress gets to be too much.
“Go easy on yourself,” people tell me. But I can’t. Being a parent means protecting and caring for your children. I see them floundering, and it doesn’t make it better that it’s happening to all the kids around us, too.
We considered distant private schools for our youngest. But we decided against it, after all. For one thing, three kids at three different schools might kill me. For another, at age 4, social interaction matters the most. We want him to have friends in his neighborhood, to walk the few blocks to his school together with his brother.
Beyond that, we have no faith that Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo won’t close private schools as cruelly, arbitrarily and irrationally as they close public ones.
And that’s exactly what happened last week, when Hizzoner asked the state to close schools, both public and private, in ZIP codes with slightly elevated COVID-19 positive rates, starting Wednesday. Cuomo, who takes a sadist’s pleasure in putting the mayor in his place, responded by ordering schools closed Tuesday.
Cuomo also introduced a very complicated color-coding system for neighborhood closures that mostly aligned with the mayor’s ZIP codes. Schools in the red and orange zones would be closed for 14 days, while the yellows could remain open if they hadn’t been closed earlier. Or something. It’s all insanely convoluted.
Parents are aghast. The schools hadn’t had cases, yet our leaders were punishing the kids because the neighborhood has an elevated positive rate. Never mind that positive cases don’t necessarily translate to hospitalizations, deaths or overwhelmed health systems — what lockdowns are supposed to tame.
I know I’m not the only parent thinking about pausing my career indefinitely because our schools are such a disaster. What will it mean for the productivity of an already-hurting city if a large number of people need to stop working to educate their kids?
Countries around the world led with school reopenings, and the rest of their economies followed. Even when they ponder new lockdowns, other countries exclude schools. The virus, after all, poses a minuscule risk to children, who also transmit it at a much lower rate than do adults.
In September, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “schools should be the very last bit of society that we want to close down again.”
Not us. Our hapless leaders close schools first and figure out why later. Kids are adrift. Parents are faced with unthinkable choices. It’s breaking us.
Twitter: @Karol


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Giants doomed themselves in crushing loss to Cowboys

Birds fly. Fish swim.
The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
There are irrefutable truths. Here is another: The Giants lose.
And they have had enough of it.
“At this point in time there’s enough of this, ‘Oh we’re so close, we’re doing better, we’re getting there,’ ’’ linebacker Blake Martinez said. “It’s time to win. It’s a results business. We need to go out there and win and need to get the job done. It’s time for that now.’’
The time is overdue. The Giants flipped the script Sunday at AT&T Stadium in that they took a 17-3 lead in the first half and were ahead 34-31 in the fourth quarter. This flirtation with the first victory of the season was coming at the expense of the Cowboys, who lost their franchise quarterback, Dak Prescott, to a gruesome fractured and dislocated right ankle midway through the third quarter.
An avalanche of mistakes, missed opportunities, two touchdowns taken off the board and another Daniel Jones lost fumble kept the Giants winless in Judge’s first season. They were overtaken and beaten 37-34 on Greg Zuerlein’s 34-yard field goal as time expired, an agonizing yet familiar way to spend a weekend.
“That’s all that really matters to us, to be honest with you, is the progress we’re making right now,’’ Judge said. “The record will come in time. Obviously we’re not happy about losses, that’s not what we do here.’’
Well, it is what they do.
The Giants are 0-5 for the first time since 2017 and an NFL-worst 12-41 since the start of that season.
The Cowboys (2-3) are now alone in first place, but will have to move ahead without Prescott. They sit atop the NFL’s worst division, ahead of the Eagles (1-3-1), Washington (1-4) and the winless Giants. The Giants and Washington square off in Week 6 at MetLife Stadium in a battle for last place.
“It’s been a tough start and to say we aren’t disappointed would be a lie,’’ Jones said. “We certainly are. We’re not going to allow ourselves to be discouraged.’’
Tied at 34, the Giants had a chance to finish the deal, getting the ball with 1:56 left, but Jones was pressured on every pass and the Giants had to punt the ball away. The Cowboys had 52 seconds to work with and, on cue, the Giants defense caved in.
Prescott’s replacement, Andy Dalton, took the Cowboys 72 yards in only four plays, getting a brilliant sideline catch by Michael Gallup for 19 yards and then the dagger: A 38-yard lob to Gallup over cornerback Ryan Lewis with three seconds remaining to set up the game-winning kick.
“They just made a big play,’’ Judge said. “He’s a good receiver, Andy made a great pass. We were in a good position defensively and they made a play.’’
The Giants had so many chances to win the game.
Tied at 17 in the second quarter, they should have taken a 24-17 lead when a perfectly called fake punt clicked when Riley Dixon hit Evan Engram for a touchdown. An illegal shift penalty on Cam Fleming took the points off the board. Judge slammed his headset to the ground.
The Cowboys then closed out the half by befuddling the Giants with a gimmick play that resulted in Prescott hauling in his first career touchdown catch on a pass from receiver Cedrick Wilson just 16 seconds before halftime.
Down 24-20, the Giants should have gone ahead on Jones’ 31-yard pass to Darius Slayton, but receiver Damion Ratley was called for offensive interference on a pick play.
Down 31-26 after Graham Gano’s fourth field goal, the Giants got a break when Dalton, fumbled the snap and Martinez recovered on the Dallas 17. The Giants cashed in on Devonta Freeman’s 5-yard TD run. On the two-point conversion, left tackle Andrew Thomas reported as eligible and was wide open in the end zone to collect Jones’ floater to put the Giants up 34-31 with 8:46 remaining.
A face-mask penalty on Markus Golden jump-started a Cowboys drive that ended with Zuerlein’s 40-yard field goal to tie the game at 34 with 1:56 to go.
There was an inkling this might be different. The Giants got Engram’s first NFL rushing touchdown, a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Kyler Fackrell and a 55-yard field goal by Gano to take a 17-3 lead early in the second quarter.
By halftime, the Giants were down 24-20 because of a series of blunders great and small. Yet another Jones fumble — this one triggered when DeMarcus Lawrence obliterated Thomas — turned into a disaster when Anthony Brown returned the turnover 29 yards for a touchdown.
“We scored on defense, we did a lot of good things but we’re not getting no more ‘attaboys,’ ’’ Ryan said. “No more pats on the back for close losses. That time is done. The fan base deserves wins and we’re gonna do what we got to do to get some wins for the fans and ourselves, because we deserve it too. Coach Judge deserves it.’’


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--De Blasio’s latest ‘fiscal savings’ a loss to taxpayers, gift to teachers union

That was fast .
Last Thursday , Mayor de Blasio informed the United Federation of Teachers that the city couldn ’ t afford a $ 900 million bonus for union members .
It took 24 hours for the union to knock this threat down — and wring a better deal from out-of-work taxpayers .
The state must step in .
How did New York City end up on the hook for a near-billion-dollar payment during the worst fiscal crisis ever ?
You can thank de Blasio .
In Mayor Mike Bloomberg ’ s final term , the global economy melted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they wanted raises , they would have to pay for them through work-rule or benefits changes .
The teachers waited Bloomberg out , and de Blasio delivered in his first six months .
He offered a contract that included $ 3.6 billion in back pay .
Only problem : The city didn ’ t have $ 3.6 billion .
The “ thinking ” : The city would surely have the money by , oh , say , October 2020 .
The city stretched out the payments over the six years , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future they got .
Only other problem : State law forbids New York City from borrowing for day-to-day operating expenses , let alone borrowing for past operating expenses .
And this is what this was .
Consider : If you ask your neighbor to paint your house but tell him you can ’ t pay him for 12 years , don ’ t you owe him money ?
That ’ s debt .
The city got around this with a strange insistence that the bonuses weren ’ t back pay ; they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the 2009-2011 [ bargaining ] round.
” The state ’ s Financial Control Board , the body the state Legislature created after the 1975 fiscal crisis to ensure the city balanced its budgets , incorrectly signed off on this fiction .
Now , the city is broke , bleeding at least $ 10 billion in revenue — and , as Hizzoner ’ s deputy wrote in a letter to the union last Thursday , making this last payment would be “ fiscally irresponsible.
” The teachers weren ’ t in the mood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in for another fight , ” UFT chief Michael Mulgrew vowed .
Mulgrew , in a fit of temper , destroyed the illusion .
He said what the city and the union have refused to acknowledge for six years .
He reminded his members that “ those payments are overdue wages that go back to 2009 and 2010.
” That ’ s exactly right — and why the deal incurring this “ overdue ” debt , back in 2014 , was illegal under the state ’ s balanced-budget law .
The UFT didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a victory .
Friday , the city and the union sent this disagreement to a neutral third party , as agreed to under the unlawful contract .
The third party , of course , said that the agreement says what it says : The city owes this money .
The arbitrator “ gave ” the city a little something , though : He said Gotham can delay $ 450 million of the $ 900 million payment to next July .
In return , the city must pledge no teacher layoffs until next June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 5 billion in state or federal rescue money , it can ’ t lay off teachers until mid-2022 .
Hard to believe , but this agreement is worse than the original unlawful agreement .
De Blasio has no idea what the budget situation will look like by next June .
If layoffs are necessary , it ’ s not the teachers ’ union that should decide that teachers should be immune , while sanitation workers and EMTs shoulder an even bigger burden .
Yet this agreement binds not only de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his successor .
So this fresh deal is just as prohibited , under state law , as the 2014 one was .
New York City has now taken its six-year-old debt incurred for past operating expenses — and extended it nine months , into the next fiscal year .
The 1975-era law prohibits “ an operating deficit of more than $ 100 million.
” Contrary to de Blasio ’ s characterization of this fresh deferral as “ savings , ” a deficit — and a debt — is exactly what it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibition , too , violates another tenet of state law : It “ substantially impairs the [ city ’ s ] ability to .
.
.
adopt or adhere to a balanced budget.
” It ’ s obvious that New York City can ’ t address its budget crisis .
The state ’ s Financial Control Board , controlled by Gov .
Cuomo , must step in .
The FCB should ask for state legislation to undo these unlawful concessions to the union — and to impose a blanket wage freeze , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week , these “ overdue wages .
”

That was fast. Last Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio informed the United Federation of Teachers that the city couldn’t afford a $900 million bonus for union members. It took 24 hours for the union to knock this threat down — and wring a better deal from out-of-work taxpayers.
The state must step in.
How did New York City end up on the hook for a near-billion-dollar payment during the worst fiscal crisis ever?
You can thank de Blasio. In Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s final term, the global economy melted down — and Bloomberg told teachers that if they wanted raises, they would have to pay for them through work-rule or benefits changes.
The teachers waited Bloomberg out, and de Blasio delivered in his first six months. He offered a contract that included $3.6 billion in back pay.
Only problem: The city didn’t have $3.6 billion. The “thinking”: The city would surely have the money by, oh, say, October 2020. The city stretched out the payments over the six years, with payments getting bigger the further into the future they got.
Only other problem: State law forbids New York City from borrowing for day-to-day operating expenses, let alone borrowing for past operating expenses. And this is what this was. Consider: If you ask your neighbor to paint your house but tell him you can’t pay him for 12 years, don’t you owe him money? That’s debt.
The city got around this with a strange insistence that the bonuses weren’t back pay; they were, um, “lump-sum payments stemming from the 2009-2011 [bargaining] round.”
The state’s Financial Control Board, the body the state Legislature created after the 1975 fiscal crisis to ensure the city balanced its budgets, incorrectly signed off on this fiction.
Now, the city is broke, bleeding at least $10 billion in revenue — and, as Hizzoner’s deputy wrote in a letter to the union last Thursday, making this last payment would be “fiscally irresponsible.”
The teachers weren’t in the mood to compromise. “We’re in for another fight,” UFT chief Michael Mulgrew vowed.
Mulgrew, in a fit of temper, destroyed the illusion. He said what the city and the union have refused to acknowledge for six years. He reminded his members that “those payments are overdue wages that go back to 2009 and 2010.”
That’s exactly right — and why the deal incurring this “overdue” debt, back in 2014, was illegal under the state’s balanced-budget law.
The UFT didn’t have to wait long for a victory. Friday, the city and the union sent this disagreement to a neutral third party, as agreed to under the unlawful contract. The third party, of course, said that the agreement says what it says: The city owes this money.
The arbitrator “gave” the city a little something, though: He said Gotham can delay $450 million of the $900 million payment to next July.
In return, the city must pledge no teacher layoffs until next June — and, if the city gets more than $5 billion in state or federal rescue money, it can’t lay off teachers until mid-2022.
Hard to believe, but this agreement is worse than the original unlawful agreement.
De Blasio has no idea what the budget situation will look like by next June. If layoffs are necessary, it’s not the teachers’ union that should decide that teachers should be immune, while sanitation workers and EMTs shoulder an even bigger burden.
Yet this agreement binds not only de Blasio, but the first six months of his successor.
So this fresh deal is just as prohibited, under state law, as the 2014 one was. New York City has now taken its six-year-old debt incurred for past operating expenses — and extended it nine months, into the next fiscal year.
The 1975-era law prohibits “an operating deficit of more than $100 million.” Contrary to de Blasio’s characterization of this fresh deferral as “savings,” a deficit — and a debt — is exactly what it is.
The city’s new no-layoffs prohibition, too, violates another tenet of state law: It “substantially impairs the [city’s] ability to . . . adopt or adhere to a balanced budget.”
It’s obvious that New York City can’t address its budget crisis. The state’s Financial Control Board, controlled by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, must step in.
The FCB should ask for state legislation to undo these unlawful concessions to the union — and to impose a blanket wage freeze, including for, as Mulgrew finally called them last week, these “overdue wages.”
Nicole Gelinas is a contributing editor of City Journal.


newyorkpost--2020-10-11--Happy Columbus Day — say it loud, say it proud

Happy Columbus Day .
There , I said it .
And I mean it .
I don ’ t wish you a solemn Columbus Day , nor a mournful one , nor still a guilty one .
No , I wish you a happy Columbus Day .
It ’ s a day to celebrate the contributions of Italian-Americans to our nation ’ s history .
That was the original intent behind the holiday , after all , to elevate Italians at a time when they still faced marked bigotry .
But more than that , it ’ s a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courage and determination we need , as they say , now more than ever .
Christopher Columbus wasn ’ t just the man most responsible for opening up the New World to the Old ; he was also an example of the American Dream centuries before our nation was born .
The son of a tradesman , he was mainly self-taught in the ways of words and letters and began acquiring his sailing chops as early as age 10 .
This wasn ’ t a privileged young man , but rather one who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic faith , rose far above his humble origins and became one of humanity ’ s greatest and most famous heroes .
At a time when the world is battling a global pandemic and the economic catastrophe of lockdowns , Columbus offers an example to us about balancing the fear of death against the immortal human longing for prosperity , achievement and discovery .
Four times he would cross the Atlantic , most famously in 1492 , with his trio of ships , the Nina , the Pinta and the Santa Maria .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ voyage into the unknown .
While it is certainly true that Columbus was better at getting to the New World than he was at governing it , his opening of Atlantic trade would change the world forever , arguably save the West and spread the Gospel of Jesus farther and wider than anybody in what then was known as Christendom could have imagined .
If this sounds hyperbolic , consider that just a few decades before Columbus ’ first voyage , Constantinople had fallen to Muslim invaders — and that it was only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christians reclaimed the Iberian Peninsula in the Reconquista .
Christendom had been in a battle for survival through five centuries of invasions and crusades .
The riches of the New World , tapped first by Columbus , ensured the safety of Western Europe and laid the groundwork for its global dominance .
The upshot of Columbus ’ grit and courage is nothing short of the world we inhabit today , one in which Judeo-Christian values through centuries of churn and violence have led to the freest , most equitable and most prosperous nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are those who say that Columbus didn ’ t live with our modern values .
That is true , but it is also true that without Columbus , our modern values might very well not exist .
A wise man gazes on history with a fervent hope for mercy , not unlike what so many hope from God .
He doesn ’ t dare mindlessly condemn his own past in toto , because he knows that his own age , too , has its own moral blind spots and is marred by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those social-justice messages are tapped out on phones produced under conditions approximating slave labor ) .
The best he can do is to live in the world as he finds it and do his best to bring about a more humane future — a future that may well treat his own age as base and uncaring .
That ’ s how Columbus lived and acted in history , not living long enough to see all his greatness reduced to his mistakes .
Columbus Day is a time to remember that that which seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day to feel inspired , to know that we shape the future .
So go to an Italian restaurant Monday night ( at 25 percent capacity , of course ) and raise a glass or two of Chianti to Columbus and the crews who served him .
Wonder at the bravery of those men and ask yourself what challenges you can face with strength and purpose .
Don ’ t allow the naysayers who line their pockets with the outrage of the guilt steal from you the history that belongs to all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sneers or snide remarks .
Christopher Columbus endured plenty of those in his own day , but rather than cower beneath the criticisms of those who were supposedly his betters , he trusted in himself , in God and in the limitless possibilities of human exploration .
Monday is his day but also ours .
Let ’ s hold it in our hearts .
David Marcus is The Federalist ’ s New York correspondent .

Happy Columbus Day. There, I said it. And I mean it. I don’t wish you a solemn Columbus Day, nor a mournful one, nor still a guilty one. No, I wish you a happy Columbus Day.
It’s a day to celebrate the contributions of Italian Americans to our nation’s history. That was the original intent behind the holiday, after all, to elevate Italians at a time when they still faced marked bigotry. But more than that, it’s a day to celebrate a man whose example of courage and determination we need, as they say, now more than ever.
Christopher Columbus wasn’t just the man most responsible for opening up the New World to the Old; he was also an example of the American Dream centuries before our nation was born.
The son of a tradesman, he was mainly self-taught in the ways of words and letters and began acquiring his sailing chops as early as age 10. This wasn’t a privileged young man, but rather one who through pluck, will and a healthy Catholic faith rose far above his humble origins and became one of humanity’s greatest and most famous heroes.
At a time when the world is battling a global pandemic and the economic catastrophe of lockdowns, Columbus offers an example to us about balancing the fear of death against the immortal human longing for prosperity, achievement and discovery.
Four times he would cross the Atlantic, most famously in 1492, with his trio of ships, the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Each was a potentially deadly, dangerous voyage into the unknown.
While it is certainly true that Columbus was better at getting to the New World than he was at governing it, his opening of Atlantic trade would change the world forever, arguably save the West and spread the Gospel of Jesus farther and wider than anybody in what then was known as Christendom could have imagined.
If this sounds hyperbolic, consider that just a few decades before Columbus’ first voyage, Constantinople had fallen to Muslim invaders — and that it was only in that same year of 1492 that Christians reclaimed the Iberian Peninsula in the Reconquista.
Christendom had been in a battle for survival through five centuries of invasions and crusades. The riches of the New World, tapped first by Columbus, ensured the safety of Western Europe and laid the groundwork for its global dominance.
The upshot of Columbus’ grit and courage is nothing short of the world we inhabit today, one in which Judeo-Christian values through centuries of churn and violence have led to the freest, most equitable and most prosperous nations in our planet’s history. There are those who say that Columbus didn’t live with our modern values. That is true, but it is also true that without Columbus, our modern values might very well not exist.
A wise man gazes on history with a fervent hope for mercy, not unlike what so many hope for from God. He doesn’t dare mindlessly condemn his own past in toto, because he knows that his own age, too, has its own moral blind spots and is marred by great crimes (in our age, those social-justice messages are tapped out on phones produced under conditions approximating slave labor).
The best he can do is to live in the world as he finds it and do his best to bring about a more humane future — a future that may well treat his own age as base and uncaring. That’s how Columbus lived and acted in history, not living long enough to see all his greatness reduced to his mistakes.
Columbus Day is a time to remember that that which seems impossible rarely is. It is a day to feel inspired, to know that we shape the future. So go to an Italian restaurant Monday night (at 25 percent capacity, of course) and raise a glass or two of Chianti to Columbus and the crews who served him. Wonder at the bravery of those men and ask yourself what challenges you can face with strength and purpose.
Don’t allow the naysayers who line their pockets with the outrage of the guilt steal from you the history that belongs to all of us; don’t fear their sneers or snide remarks. Christopher Columbus endured plenty of those in his own day, but rather than cower beneath the criticisms of those who were supposedly his betters, he trusted in himself, in God and in the limitless possibilities of human exploration. Monday is his day but also ours. Let’s hold it in our hearts.
David Marcus is The Federalist’s New York correspondent.