newyorkpost--2020-09-01--‘Mulan’ star Yifei Liu lived in Queens for four years, once owned 30 cats

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Due to the coronavirus nobody gives a rat ’ s ass for China ’ s Wuhan , but now comes something good .
Actress Yifei Liu .
Born there .
She beat out 1,000 other actresses to be “ Mulan.
” Disney ’ s fictional character based on legendary Chinese warrior Hua Mulan takes big-time kung fu fighting .
This tough fortune cookie trained three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Director Niki Caro : “ Yifei ’ s action is explosive .
Our jaws dropped at her skill .
An accomplished martial artist , she wields a sword , rides a horse and sings .
She ’ s the complete package .
The only one who could play Mulan.
” Liu : “ It took great fortitude .
I built up strength to play the character .
How fast can I move ?
Have I energy for those action sequences ?
We shot on location with a cast of thousands .
With the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m thankful for my trainers.
” Disney ’ s gambling big on Asian-Action-Adventure .
This premieres Friday on something called Disney+ .
The plus is $ 29.99 and you need to subscribe for another seven bucks a month .
Translation : You have to have a yen — a big wad of yen — for this one .
And Liu , 33 , knows New York .
She lived in Queens from 10 to 14 .
She also had 30 cats .
Betty Crocker hunting four for an ad .
Parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 750 ; female friend 25-45 .
Open to diversity … Bucks County Playhouse .
Marsha Mason read Jerome Kilty ’ s play “ Dear Liar ” about George Bernard Shaw and Mrs. Patrick Campbell ’ s love letters … NYC construction company Evergreen owner Barbara Kavovit designing new YWCA headquarters .
Julia Morgan designed most of the early ones , early 1900s … Another mouth opened to be our mayor .
Peter Guimaraes .
Democrat .
Co-owns Bice restaurant , moonlights on “ Real Housewives ” and tells me : “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with.
” OK .
I only vouch for his ravioli .
For coming holiday weekend a happy touch is pill-popping movie “ Project Power.
” Jamie Foxx , playing an ex-soldier : “ I ’ m an emotional dude .
Things hit me right in my tear box.
” Co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt hasn ’ t acted in a while .
“ I took some years off .
Became a dad .
Spent time with my baby.
” He plays a narcotics detective hunting the baddies in New Orleans .
Playing a teen is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t usually see African-American girls being the ones helping or saved .
Mine ’ s a breakout role.
” Jamie : “ The drug ‘ Power ’ has this supernatural power quality .
It ’ s on the street .
But I bought a popcorn popper just like ones in movie theaters .
I turn the lights down low , get my popcorn , walk in late — and enjoy the film .
You should do the same … But if you ’ re out enjoying , wear protection.
” “ Project Power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This coming Labor Day think good thoughts about our planet .
Our oceans are clogged with plastic and trash .
Fish dying .
Animals disappearing .
Elephants , monkeys , polar bears thinning .
Greenhouse gases poisoning the atmosphere .
People starving .
Chemicals choking the air .
Ozone polluting .
Trees decaying .
Humans destroying one another .
Glaciers melting .
Wars hovering .
Diseases killing .
Floods , earthquakes , fires , tsunamis , hurricanes .
Broadway gone .
Restaurants kaput .
Galas , parties , get-togethers , openings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerts , premieres , street food sellers gone .
Soon no more Earth .
Nothing around for us to hate .
Lucky we have Mars .
There ’ s someplace still left for the weekend .
I ’ m off for a few days .
Back in the paper Wednesday , when it will be only in New York , kids , only in New York .

Due to the coronavirus nobody gives a rat’s ass for China’s Wuhan, but now comes something good. Actress Yifei Liu. Born there. She beat out 1,000 other actresses to be “Mulan.”
Disney’s fictional character based on legendary Chinese warrior Hua Mulan takes big-time kung fu fighting. This tough fortune cookie trained three months, seven hours a day.
Director Niki Caro: “Yifei’s action is explosive. Our jaws dropped at her skill. An accomplished martial artist, she wields a sword, rides a horse and sings. She’s the complete package. The only one who could play Mulan.”
Liu: “It took great fortitude. I built up strength to play the character. How fast can I move? Have I energy for those action sequences? We shot on location with a cast of thousands. With the passion to learn more and more, I’m thankful for my trainers.”
Disney’s gambling big on Asian-Action-Adventure. This premieres Friday on something called Disney+. The plus is $29.99 and you need to subscribe for another seven bucks a month. Translation: You have to have a yen — a big wad of yen — for this one.
And Liu, 33, knows New York. She lived in Queens from 10 to 14. She also had 30 cats.
This ‘n’ that
Betty Crocker hunting four for an ad. Parents, $1,500; kids 3-12, $750; female friend 25-45. Open to diversity … Bucks County Playhouse. Marsha Mason read Jerome Kilty’s play “Dear Liar” about George Bernard Shaw and Mrs. Patrick Campbell’s love letters … NYC construction company Evergreen owner Barbara Kavovit designing new YWCA headquarters. Julia Morgan designed most of the early ones, early 1900s … Another mouth opened to be our mayor. Peter Guimaraes. Democrat. Co-owns Bice restaurant, moonlights on “Real Housewives” and tells me: “I’m a force to be reckoned with.” OK. I only vouch for his ravioli.
‘Power’-ing up the movies
For coming holiday weekend a happy touch is pill-popping movie “Project Power.” Jamie Foxx, playing an ex-soldier: “I’m an emotional dude. Things hit me right in my tear box.” Co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt hasn’t acted in a while. “I took some years off. Became a dad. Spent time with my baby.” He plays a narcotics detective hunting the baddies in New Orleans.
Playing a teen is Dominique Fishback: “You don’t usually see African-American girls being the ones helping or saved. Mine’s a breakout role.”
Jamie: “The drug ‘Power’ has this supernatural power quality. It’s on the street. But I bought a popcorn popper just like ones in movie theaters. I turn the lights down low, get my popcorn, walk in late — and enjoy the film. You should do the same … But if you’re out enjoying, wear protection.”
“Project Power” is projecting now, on Netflix.
Labor lost
This coming Labor Day think good thoughts about our planet. Our oceans are clogged with plastic and trash. Fish dying. Animals disappearing. Elephants, monkeys, polar bears thinning. Greenhouse gases poisoning the atmosphere. People starving. Chemicals choking the air. Ozone polluting. Trees decaying. Humans destroying one another. Glaciers melting. Wars hovering. Diseases killing. Floods, earthquakes, fires, tsunamis, hurricanes. Broadway gone. Restaurants kaput. Galas, parties, get-togethers, openings, red carpets, screenings, theaters, concerts, premieres, street food sellers gone.
Soon no more Earth. Nothing around for us to hate.
Lucky we have Mars. There’s someplace still left for the weekend.
I’m off for a few days. Back in the paper Wednesday, when it will be only in New York, kids, only in New York.


newyorkpost--2020-09-01--Joe Judge’s Giants roster philosophy means shot for unheralded Jarren Williams

Who said Giants practices are all running penalty laps , contact ...

So, you are saying there’s a chance?
“He says to everybody, he doesn’t care where you come from or anything like that,’’ Jarren Williams told The Post.
“It’s not just young guys. He says everybody is going to get what they earn … and I really think he’s being true to that.’’
The insistence of new Giants head coach Joe Judge that the entire roster is open for business is not the typical coach-speak lip service. How Judge maneuvers players, in and out of training camp practices, guys working with the first team and the second, and the third, is either happenstance or by design. With Judge, go with by design.
No biases, no preconceived notions, no homage to the résumé or the fancy college football program.
This is a good thing for Williams, an undrafted rookie cornerback from Ohio who spent three years at St. Francis (Pa.) and last season at Albany — not exactly the fast lane to the NFL. Judge will judge Williams, and all the other hopefuls, based on what he sees, not where that player has been, and so far, so good.
“He’s a guy who takes coaching points from the classroom to the field,’’ Judge said. “He’s very receptive, he plays with a good demeanor. He’s got a good body frame on him. I like the way he comes out every day.’’
Cutdown day arrives Saturday, and Williams has a shot to stick around on the newly expanded practice squad.
“Coming in I wasn’t intimidated,’’ Williams said. “I believed in myself. This is my dream and I want to show that I belong, so I don’t have time to be intimidated or scared, you know?’’
At times, Williams lines up against Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate or Darius Slayton, the top three Giants targets. He has made his plays and, of course, the receivers made plenty of their own plays, as well.
There is no time to waste. Williams was hobbled a bit during Tuesday’s practice, received some attention on the side and returned to the action in time to make a strong pass breakup in the end zone on Austin Mack, an undrafted rookie from Ohio State.
That Williams is being, as they say, “coached hard’’ is good news, because it shows the Giants are interested in learning what he is about.
Submit questions on your favorite New York teams to be answered in an upcoming mailbag
“I didn’t know a lot about him coming into this,’’ defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson said. “He showed up and I was like, ‘Well, we may have something here.’ We’ll see where it goes. But he’s done a good job of at least grabbing people’s attention.’’
Looking to enhance his football career, Williams last year wanted to find a higher level of competition and that led him to Albany.
“He came a week before our 40 test and he ran 4.39 for us,’’ Albany coach Greg Gattuso told The Post. “We were kinda like ‘Whoa, run that again.’ I grabbed him and asked ‘Hey man, have you ever run like that before?’ And he said ‘Coach, I’ve never been timed in the 40 before.’ ’’
Williams quickly worked his way into the starting lineup and helped the Great Danes — picked in the preseason coach’s poll to finish last in the Colonial Athletic Conference — to second place and an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs.
“I loved being there,’’ Williams said. “I kind of wish I was there longer, but I was grateful for the time I was there.’’
Friday night, Williams got to don his very own white Giants jersey — No. 26, just like Saquon Barkley — with his name on the back for the scrimmage at MetLife Stadium. There were no fans in the building; Williams felt some magic nevertheless.
“Me being a small-school guy, I’ve never really been in a stadium like that where I was a player in it.’’ He said. “It was a blessing, seeing the scoreboard on and all that, the theatrics of like a regular game, coming out of the tunnel and actually playing. This is the NFL, every kid dreams about this but I’m here, I’m part of that 1 percent that gets to say they’re actually in the league. But at the end of the day, you got a job to do, so you can’t get caught up in the moment.’’
Judge continues to stress, “Once you get your foot in the door, all that matters is what you do here.’’
Williams is doing what he can to stay around.


newyorkpost--2020-09-01--The riot test: Democrats need to face the enemy to their left

Twitter tweaked its policy to add warning labels on shared ...

Dems can’t afford to kowtow to the hard left
Last week, a mob of white protesters swarmed a white woman eating dinner in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. Video of the bullies demanding that patrons raise their fists in solidarity with the movement went viral.
Pro-Trump and right-wing media personalities were quick to insist this verbal assault was emblematic of the entire Democratic Party and the broader American left. Never mind that the victim, Lauren Victor, was a fellow progressive who told a Washington Post reporter, “I’m very much with them. I’ve been marching with them for weeks.”
Among the funny things about this decidedly unfunny event is that it would have been almost impossible for this roving rhetorical goon squad to find the kind of victims they surely wanted. Adams Morgan is an especially liberal neighborhood in a very liberal city. Sure, there are some conservatives there — I lived in Adams Morgan for more than a decade — but picking on random white people in Adams Morgan in the hope of finding MAGA types is like scouring Manhattan’s Upper West Side for taxidermists. It’s theoretically possible to find one, but you’ll have your work cut out.
Regardless, Democrats would be well-advised to draw inspiration from Victor’s refusal to be bullied by a mob, even one she sympathizes with, because she is surely more representative of voters than the mob accosting her is.
American liberalism’s Achilles’ heel has long been a reluctance, sometimes a flat-out inability, to criticize radicals to its left. In the 1960s, leading Democrats kowtowed to extremists out of what historian Fred Siegel called a “riot ideology,” and it cost the party dearly.
There have been exceptions. Americans for Democratic Action arguably saved the Democratic Party from its left-most wing led by the “useful idiot” Henry Wallace, FDR’s former vice president. Bill Clinton broke the GOP’s monopoly on the presidency by deliberately picking fights with the left to attract more moderate voters. Clinton’s tactics were arguably more cynical than idealistic — he took time off from the campaign trail to oversee the execution of a severely brain-damaged black man. But say what you will about his “triangulation,” it worked.
American politics has become a contest between two competing caricatures of reality. The primary driver of this dynamic has been the media’s — particularly cable news’ — addiction to narrative journalism combined with the pernicious influence of social media. Twitter and Facebook make it all too easy to shine a spotlight on outlier events and present them as central to our lives. The focus on the ludicrous “autonomous zone” in Seattle earlier this summer let the right claim the whole city was like a “Mad Max” movie.
Similarly, the statistically rare (I’m sorry, but it’s true) examples of outrageously bad behavior by some cops captured on video give many on the left permission to push a narrative of wholesale racial oppression by police.
Social media are like the wall in Plato’s Cave. Selective facts cast shadows we mistake for reality. If you take all your cues about what’s happening in America from partisan Twitter, as so many journalists do, you’d be a fool not to buy a gun and prepare for the coming apocalyptic helter-skelter.
The problem is intensified by the tendency of the hyper-politically engaged left and right to listen only to people in their own echo chamber and to mistake Twitter outrage for sentiment on the ground. So despite the fact that a majority of black and Latino people want the same amount or more police in their communities, we spent weeks listening to “experts” claim that “abolish the police” is a reasonable, mainstream position.
(Here’s an illustrative heuristic: If you hear politicians or journalists using the label “Latinx” to describe Latinos, you’re listening to someone in a bubble. According to recent Pew polling, only about 25 percent of Latinos know the term, and only about 3 percent actually use it.)
Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination largely because most of his competitors talked as if primary voters were indistinguishable from the very online left-wing activists and journalists who dominate MSNBC and CNN.
To his credit, Biden has unequivocally condemned rioting, vigilantism and street violence. But he took too much time to do it not because he doesn’t believe what he said, but because the campaign let the fringe define the center of the party. Condemning violence — by rioters and vigilantes alike — is a no-brainer; it’s a pre-partisan patriotic requirement of political leadership.
Hesitation to do so is not merely shameful, it’s political malpractice, because most voters expect it, and even the appearance of reluctance feeds precisely the narrative that could cost Biden the election.
Twitter: @JonahDispatch


newyorkpost--2020-09-01--Gerrit Cole’s fastball issue making Yankees’ rebound more challenging

There ’ s no reason , with half of a drastically reduced season in the books , to think that Gerrit Cole can ’ t stand the heat .
Throwing the heat , however , has proven surprisingly difficult for the Yankees ’ $ 301.3 million man .
If you ’ re looking for a reason why Cole has not dominated opponents in his first eight starts as a Yankee ( yup , it ’ s a small sample ) , at a time when they really could have used such dominance , gaze no further than his fastball , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to utilize as his primary weapon .
“ Tampa Bay has a very good lineup , ” a scout who monitors the Yankees said Tuesday on the condition of anonymity .
“ When you miss your spots , they make you pay .
Doesn ’ t matter how hard you throw it.
” Actually , Cole ’ s fastball velocity is down slightly , averaging 96.5 mph compared to the 97.1 mph at which he threw it last year , when he helped lead the Astros to the American League pennant with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the average fastball , as per FanGraphs — the best 2019 pitch of any kind in the entire industry by the website ’ s metrics .
This year , through these eight starts — including his critical , 5-3 loss to the Rays on Monday night at Yankee Stadium ( the Yankees ’ seventh loss in eight games to these guys ) — Cole ’ s fastball scores at a mere 0.2 runs better than average , which largely explains his modest 3.91 ERA .
“ I think some of those cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slug on the fastball [ is ] a little combination of a small sample where guys get him , a good plan up there where they ’ re looking in a certain zone , ” Aaron Boone said of Cole on Tuesday , before the Yankees continued their series with the Rays in The Bronx .
“ Maybe missed location or [ he ] yanked a pitch into a hot zone that you were trying to go away from .
And unfortunately a handful of guys have really taken advantage of a couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually executed pretty well.
” Entering Tuesday ’ s actions , the 12 homers Cole had permitted placed him in a tie with Ross Stripling , whom the Dodgers traded to the Blue Jays on Monday , for the most in baseball .
Seven of those round-trippers have come off the fastball .
Throw in seven doubles , and opponents are slugging .524 on the pitch after tallying a lowly .348 last year ( thanks , Statcast ) .
After Monday ’ s loss , his second in two starts — he hadn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two starts of 2019 — Cole lamented , “ Whenever I ’ m over the plate , the hitter is very certain of what ’ s coming.
” That set off sirens over one of baseball ’ s most boring espionage fields : Pitch-tipping !
Cole shrugged off a follow-up question , saying , “ I think we all pretty much tip every game one way or another , ” and the goal is to minimize it .
On Tuesday , Boone added , “ I ’ d like to think we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that stuff .
… That ’ s something we ’ re trying to stay on top of with all of our pitchers , all of our pitchers at the alternate site .
That ’ s something that we talk about all the time.
” Given the sort of attention Cole tends to his craft , it would be a surprise if tipping turned out to be his primary problem .
Rather , as the scout said , “ His stuff has been as good as ever .
It ’ s been his command @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably be the first to admit his mistakes are getting hammered.
” Pretty much .
As Cole said Monday , “ the handful of pitches that were left over , it ’ s not a single , it ’ s a double .
It ’ s extra bases.
” So he ’ ll do his bullpen work and try to get this right , which would in turn get the Yankees more right than they have been amid a second straight injury epidemic .
“ I feel like over time , that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Boone said .
“ As he continues to really get airtight with his execution and his command , you ’ ll see him go through some dominant stretches.
” If you don ’ t see that , you ’ ll see the Yankees continue to sweat their way through this bizarre campaign made even more bizarre by Cole ’ s heater headaches .

There’s no reason, with half of a drastically reduced season in the books, to think that Gerrit Cole can’t stand the heat.
Throwing the heat, however, has proven surprisingly difficult for the Yankees’ $301.3 million man.
If you’re looking for a reason why Cole has not dominated opponents in his first eight starts as a Yankee (yup, it’s a small sample), at a time when they really could have used such dominance, gaze no further than his fastball, his bread-and-butter pitch that he has struggled to utilize as his primary weapon.
“Tampa Bay has a very good lineup,” a scout who monitors the Yankees said Tuesday on the condition of anonymity. “When you miss your spots, they make you pay. Doesn’t matter how hard you throw it.”
Actually, Cole’s fastball velocity is down slightly, averaging 96.5 mph compared to the 97.1 mph at which he threw it last year, when he helped lead the Astros to the American League pennant with a four-seamer that accounted for 37.1 fewer runs than the average fastball, as per FanGraphs — the best 2019 pitch of any kind in the entire industry by the website’s metrics.
This year, through these eight starts — including his critical, 5-3 loss to the Rays on Monday night at Yankee Stadium (the Yankees’ seventh loss in eight games to these guys) — Cole’s fastball scores at a mere 0.2 runs better than average, which largely explains his modest 3.91 ERA.
“I think some of those cases where he has been hurt for some slug on the fastball [is] a little combination of a small sample where guys get him, a good plan up there where they’re looking in a certain zone,” Aaron Boone said of Cole on Tuesday, before the Yankees continued their series with the Rays in The Bronx. “Maybe missed location or [he] yanked a pitch into a hot zone that you were trying to go away from. And unfortunately a handful of guys have really taken advantage of a couple pitches and hit some pitches that were actually executed pretty well.”
Entering Tuesday’s actions, the 12 homers Cole had permitted placed him in a tie with Ross Stripling, whom the Dodgers traded to the Blue Jays on Monday, for the most in baseball. Seven of those round-trippers have come off the fastball. Throw in seven doubles, and opponents are slugging .524 on the pitch after tallying a lowly .348 last year (thanks, Statcast).
After Monday’s loss, his second in two starts — he hadn’t done that since his first two starts of 2019 — Cole lamented, “Whenever I’m over the plate, the hitter is very certain of what’s coming.” That set off sirens over one of baseball’s most boring espionage fields: Pitch-tipping!
Cole shrugged off a follow-up question, saying, “I think we all pretty much tip every game one way or another,” and the goal is to minimize it. On Tuesday, Boone added, “I’d like to think we’re as vigilant as it comes with that stuff. … That’s something we’re trying to stay on top of with all of our pitchers, all of our pitchers at the alternate site. That’s something that we talk about all the time.”
Given the sort of attention Cole tends to his craft, it would be a surprise if tipping turned out to be his primary problem. Rather, as the scout said, “His stuff has been as good as ever. It’s been his command in the strike zone. He would probably be the first to admit his mistakes are getting hammered.”
Pretty much. As Cole said Monday, “the handful of pitches that were left over, it’s not a single, it’s a double. It’s extra bases.”
So he’ll do his bullpen work and try to get this right, which would in turn get the Yankees more right than they have been amid a second straight injury epidemic.
“I feel like over time, that’ll kind of work itself out,” Boone said. “As he continues to really get airtight with his execution and his command, you’ll see him go through some dominant stretches.”
If you don’t see that, you’ll see the Yankees continue to sweat their way through this bizarre campaign made even more bizarre by Cole’s heater headaches.


newyorkpost--2020-09-01--The numbers are clear: COVID is no real threat to kids

The latest data on COVID-19 cases and fatalities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm that young people face a negligible risk of dying from the disease , while people 65 and older face a much higher risk .
That latter group accounts for about 16 percent of confirmed cases but four-fifths of deaths .
The crude case fatality rate indicated by the CDC ’ s numbers — deaths divided by confirmed cases — is about 0.25 percent for patients younger than 50 and nearly 16 percent — 63 times higher — for patients older than 64 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent , the rates among adults range from 0.07 percent for patients in their late teens and 20s to 29 percent for patients 85 or older — more than 400 times higher .
Because these calculations include only confirmed cases , the percentages are higher than the fatality rates among all Americans infected by the virus , many of whom never seek testing because their symptoms are mild or nonexistent .
Judging from the CDC ’ s antibody studies , moreover , the infection fatality rate varies widely from one part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Utah to 1.4 percent in Connecticut , for example .
The nationwide infection fatality rate remains unclear , since it depends on how many infections have been undetected .
The CDC ’ s current “ best estimate , ” based on studies from around the world , is 0.65 percent , more than twice as high as its implied estimate in May .
Since the CDC ’ s antibody research suggests the ratio of total infections to confirmed cases is something like 10 to 1 , the earlier estimate may prove closer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The strong correlation between age and fatality risk is probably largely a function of preexisting medical conditions , which are more common among older Americans .
As of Aug. 22 , the CDC reports , 94 percent of COVID-19 fatalities involved “ additional conditions or causes ” — 2.6 on average .
Aside from conditions , such as pneumonia and respiratory failure , that may have been caused by COVID-19 , the most common comorbidities were circulatory diseases .
Hypertension , for example , was noted in more than a fifth of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the time .
The CDC considers diabetes a risk factor for severe COVID-19 , and it lists hypertension as a possible risk factor .
Other risk factors mentioned by the CDC include kidney disease , which was noted in 8.5 percent of the deaths ; heart failure ( 6.5 percent ) ; cancer ( 4.6 percent ) ; and obesity ( 3.5 percent ) .
These data reinforce the point that COVID-19 — unlike , say , the “ Spanish flu ” of 1918 — is mainly a threat to the elderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two groups that overlap a lot .
The policy implications depend on which approach to protecting vulnerable groups makes more sense : broad restrictions that seek to reduce the spread of the virus and thereby make it less likely that high-risk individuals will encounter carriers , or narrower safeguards that aim to shield those individuals until a vaccine or natural herd immunity reduces the danger to a tolerable level .
Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason , from which this column was adapted .
Twitter : @ JacobSullum

CDC confirms — again: Youth aren’t at COVID risk
The latest data on COVID-19 cases and fatalities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm that young people face a negligible risk of dying from the disease, while people 65 and older face a much higher risk. That latter group accounts for about 16 percent of confirmed cases but four-fifths of deaths.
The crude case fatality rate indicated by the CDC’s numbers — deaths divided by confirmed cases — is about 0.25 percent for patients younger than 50 and nearly 16 percent — 63 times higher — for patients older than 64. While the overall crude CFR is 3 percent, the rates among adults range from 0.07 percent for patients in their late teens and 20s to 29 percent for patients 85 or older — more than 400 times higher. The fatality rates are even lower among minors: 0.04 percent for children 4 or younger and 0.02 percent for 5-to-17-year-olds.
Because these calculations include only confirmed cases, the percentages are higher than the fatality rates among all Americans infected by the virus, many of whom never seek testing because their symptoms are mild or nonexistent. Judging from the CDC’s antibody studies, moreover, the infection fatality rate varies widely from one part of the country to another — from 0.1 percent in Utah to 1.4 percent in Connecticut, for example.
The nationwide infection fatality rate remains unclear, since it depends on how many infections have been undetected. The CDC’s current “best estimate,” based on studies from around the world, is 0.65 percent, more than twice as high as its implied estimate in May. Since the CDC’s antibody research suggests the ratio of total infections to confirmed cases is something like 10 to 1, the earlier estimate may prove closer to the mark, after all.
The strong correlation between age and fatality risk is probably largely a function of preexisting medical conditions, which are more common among older Americans.
As of Aug. 22, the CDC reports, 94 percent of COVID-19 fatalities involved “additional conditions or causes” — 2.6 on average. Aside from conditions, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure, that may have been caused by COVID-19, the most common comorbidities were circulatory diseases. Hypertension, for example, was noted in more than a fifth of the cases. Diabetes was mentioned 16 percent of the time.
The CDC considers diabetes a risk factor for severe COVID-19, and it lists hypertension as a possible risk factor. Other risk factors mentioned by the CDC include kidney disease, which was noted in 8.5 percent of the deaths; heart failure (6.5 percent); cancer (4.6 percent); and obesity (3.5 percent).
These data reinforce the point that COVID-19 — unlike, say, the “Spanish flu” of 1918 — is mainly a threat to the elderly and people with serious preexisting conditions, two groups that overlap a lot. The policy implications depend on which approach to protecting vulnerable groups makes more sense: broad restrictions that seek to reduce the spread of the virus and thereby make it less likely that high-risk individuals will encounter carriers, or narrower safeguards that aim to shield those individuals until a vaccine or natural herd immunity reduces the danger to a tolerable level.
Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason, from which this column was adapted. Twitter: @JacobSullum


newyorkpost--2020-09-01--Anti-Trump hysterics now look to block … a vaccine

The US will not participate in a worldwide effort to ...

“These are the same voices who … wish failure on [every] breakthrough.”
Trump-haters are so determined to defeat the president that they are opposing emergency authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine. What callous disregard for human life. Without a vaccine, another 100,000 fatalities are expected by year’s end, according to Washington University epidemiologists.
On Friday, Food and Drug Commissioner Stephen Hahn ignited a firestorm when he said the FDA might grant emergency-use authorization to one of the COVID-19 vaccines this fall, if results rolling in from a clinical trial indicate it’s safe and effective.
Emergency-use authorization would allow the vaccine to be rushed to front-line health workers, cancer patients and the elderly, among other groups. But only those who want it. It’s voluntary. Full-fledged approval will take months longer, and most Americans won’t be able to stop by a drugstore to get vaccinated until mid-2021.
Emergency-use authorization is customarily granted when early results are so promising that waiting would amount to a cruel disregard for the lives that could be saved. The European Union and Britain also have announced they are considering emergency or conditional approval.
In America, sadly, the issue is political. Joe Biden accuses President Trump of meddling in vaccine development, rather than leaving it to the experts. Truth is, Trump is revolutionizing how vaccines are developed. He learned what not to do from the pathetic performance of the Obama-Biden administration when the H1N1 virus struck in 2009.
The first victim was a 23-month-old Texas baby who died in April 2009. The Obama administration promised to develop and manufacture 100 million vaccine doses by October but came up with only 11 million, due to a flawed plan and bungled manufacturing. As the delay dragged on, infections tripled to 60 million.
Trump isn’t risking failure. Instead of relying on one vaccine production method, like Obama did, Trump’s Operation Warp Speed has eight companies working on vaccines based on four different scientific platforms. Each company recruits 30,000 volunteers, administers the shots and waits to see if these vaccinated volunteers are significantly less likely to contract COVID-19 than unvaccinated people. The first trials, run by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca, are expected to finish in December.
Formal approval will be in the hands of the federal Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, experts drawn from industry and academia. They meet publicly, examine the data, vote and make a recommendation to the FDA. It takes months.
But even for emergency-use authorization, that committee will be consulted, explains Peter Marks, who runs FDA vaccine approval.
Hahn insists emergency use hinges on data, not politics, but anti-Trumpers accuse him of trying to boost the president’s re-election chances. These are the same voices who bash hydroxychloroquine, attack emergency use of remdesivir and wish failure on whatever breakthrough could stop the COVID carnage.
Government virus guru Dr. Anthony Fauci is another matter. His caveats are being touted by the anti-Trumpers. But parse his words. Fauci says “the one thing you would not want to see with a vaccine is getting an EUA before you have a signal of efficacy.” Hahn has already confirmed emergency use depends on that signal of efficacy. If it’s powerful, waiting for all 30,000 results would cost too many lives.
Fauci also worries that granting emergency use for one vaccine would make it harder to recruit volunteers for other vaccine candidates, because everyone will want the real deal. Sorry, but that’s bureaucratic thinking at its worst. Tell that to a nurse treating COVID patients and desperate for protection.
Meanwhile, Biden announced that if the virus continues, he will consider locking down the country again. Americans have suffered enough from lockdowns.
Trump’s idea is better: “We will achieve a victory over the virus by unleashing American scientific genius.” In short, a safe vaccine developed at warp speed.
The naysayers need to get out of the way.
Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York and author of the new book “The Next Pandemic.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-01--NY bar draws outrage for taking bets on Labor Day weekend shootings

All bets are off .
A Long Island bar has drawn outrage for creating a gambling pool on whether New York City or Chicago would have more shootings during Labor Day weekend .
The Cliffton in Patchogue reportedly posted a picture of the Super Bowl-style box betting pool to Instagram last week with the caption , ” Let the shooting sprees begin !
” Newsday reported .
The morbid contest comes as the cities grapple with upticks in shootings during the coronavirus pandemic , which has brought sky-high unemployment and fears over evictions .
“ As a @ MomsDemand volunteer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everytown Survivor Network I am positively disgusted by The Clifton Bar on Long Island treating gun violence as a joke , ” tweeted Lisa Hendricks .
“ This is life and death , not a betting pool .
Shame on them.
” Bettors taking part were able to buy boxes that are assigned a number representing the predicted shootings totals in the cities .
The gambler with the correct figures would win a cash prize , according to Newsday .
Jack Sterne , a spokesman for Gov .
Andrew M. Cuomo , called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human life.
” Reps for Mayor de Blasio and the mayor of Patchogue also quickly condemned the bet .
Suffolk police told Newsday it is investigating the pool , which appears to be illegal under laws preventing gambling in businesses with liquor licenses .
The State Liquor Authority also promised action , stating that The Cliffton already violated the law earlier this week when its operators denied entry to the state for an unrelated inspection .
“ This establishment will be charged for the violation we have already observed and can expect to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority said in a statement to Newsday .
The Cliffton has been in hot water before .
Last year the self-professed “ dive bar ” sparked protests among the LGTBQ community for a transphobic Instagram post , News 12 Long Island reported at the time .
The bar could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday .

All bets are off.
A Long Island bar has drawn outrage for creating a gambling pool on whether New York City or Chicago would have more shootings during Labor Day weekend.
The Cliffton in Patchogue reportedly posted a picture of the Super Bowl-style box betting pool to Instagram last week with the caption, ” Let the shooting sprees begin!” Newsday reported.
The morbid contest comes as the cities grapple with upticks in shootings during the coronavirus pandemic, which has brought sky-high unemployment and fears over evictions.
“As a @MomsDemand volunteer and gun violence survivor with the @Everytown Survivor Network I am positively disgusted by The Clifton Bar on Long Island treating gun violence as a joke,” tweeted Lisa Hendricks. “This is life and death, not a betting pool. Shame on them.”
Bettors taking part were able to buy boxes that are assigned a number representing the predicted shootings totals in the cities. The gambler with the correct figures would win a cash prize, according to Newsday.
Jack Sterne, a spokesman for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, called the pool a “disgusting degradation of human life.” Reps for Mayor de Blasio and the mayor of Patchogue also quickly condemned the bet.
Suffolk police told Newsday it is investigating the pool, which appears to be illegal under laws preventing gambling in businesses with liquor licenses.
The State Liquor Authority also promised action, stating that The Cliffton already violated the law earlier this week when its operators denied entry to the state for an unrelated inspection.
“This establishment will be charged for the violation we have already observed and can expect to hear from us again,” the authority said in a statement to Newsday.
The Cliffton has been in hot water before. Last year the self-professed “dive bar” sparked protests among the LGTBQ community for a transphobic Instagram post, News 12 Long Island reported at the time.
The bar could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday.


newyorkpost--2020-09-01--Cuomo, de Blasio must give NYC’s restaurants a chance to survive

Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have clearly decided to let the city ’ s restaurants die : They won ’ t allow indoor dining , the only way for most eateries to stay above water .
No matter that indoor dining and drinking ( albeit at reduced capacity ) is kosher in Westchester and Nassau , right outside the city — and literally down the block from a few restaurants in Queens .
Nor that New Jersey ’ s now allowing it , too .
The “ Dr .
No ” duo don ’ t expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — if a vaccine is widely available .
Not many spots will be left by then — their money ’ s running out .
De Blasio pretends restaurants are “ a very optional activity.
” Not for the people whose incomes depend on them .
And it ’ s not just owners facing ruin .
More than half of the industry ’ s 300,000 workers in the city are already unemployed , though city Comptroller Scott Stringer says just 1,300 of the city ’ s 25,000 restaurants and bars have closed permanently so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , runs one excuse from Team Cuomo .
But much of the city is no denser than , say , Hoboken .
Or the problem is the city ’ s inability to enforce : “ I need local governments to do a better job on compliance , ” says Cuomo .
How does he know ?
The city ’ s COVID-19 infection rate stands at 0.59 percent .
Why not see if indoor dining can work ?
If virus cases spike , then stop indoor dining until the numbers drop .

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have clearly decided to let the city’s restaurants die: They won’t allow indoor dining, the only way for most eateries to stay above water.
No matter that indoor dining and drinking (albeit at reduced capacity) is kosher in Westchester and Nassau, right outside the city — and literally down the block from a few restaurants in Queens. Nor that New Jersey’s now allowing it, too.
The “Dr. No” duo don’t expect indoor dining to return until next June — if a vaccine is widely available. Not many spots will be left by then — their money’s running out.
De Blasio pretends restaurants are “a very optional activity.” Not for the people whose incomes depend on them.
And it’s not just owners facing ruin. More than half of the industry’s 300,000 workers in the city are already unemployed, though city Comptroller Scott Stringer says just 1,300 of the city’s 25,000 restaurants and bars have closed permanently so far.
It’s about density, runs one excuse from Team Cuomo. But much of the city is no denser than, say, Hoboken.
Or the problem is the city’s inability to enforce: “I need local governments to do a better job on compliance,” says Cuomo. How does he know?
The city’s COVID-19 infection rate stands at 0.59 percent. Why not see if indoor dining can work? If virus cases spike, then stop indoor dining until the numbers drop.
Give the industry a shot at survival.


newyorkpost--2020-09-01--Serena Williams breaks Chris Evert’s record in US Open first-round win

The hype over Brandon Nakashima began in February when the ...

Even in an almost empty Arthur Ashe Stadium, Serena Williams’ serve was still awesome.
After a shaky start, when she lost her first service game to fall behind, Williams broke the silence with her booming serve — and broke Chris Evert’s record, too.
Williams punished 13 aces to post a 7-5, 6-3, first-round victory over American Kristie Ahn on Tuesday at the fan-less U.S. Open, winning her 102nd Flushing match to top Evert’s all-time mark.
It wasn’t completely barren at Ashe. There were about 40 or so people scattered about in the 23,500-seat stadium, including Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglu, in the first row behind the baseline, and her husband, Alexis Ohanian.
“It’s quiet but it’s such a big stadium,’’ Williams said. “There’s [fan] screens and it’s a Grand Slam. I still am as passionate and intense out there. I love my job and love what I do. One of these days, it’s going to end, [but] I love being out here.’’
After losing in the early rounds of two Open tuneups, this was a relieving performance for Williams, who is now six wins away from tying Margaret Court with 24 Grand Slam titles.
Even without her usual crowd support, Williams said she likes the vibe.
“I think what’s most important about this event taking place is just the spirit,’’ Williams said. “Sport has been gone for so long, particularly tennis. We missed two Grand Slams. The morale can be really low in the world with everything that’s going on. Sometimes you just want to take your mind off. That’s one of the reasons I was so supportive of the U.S. Open.”
Ahn, of Englewood, N.J., gave Williams a fight for a set before wearing down. Williams is 20-0 in first-round Open matches.
There were a few more seats filled for Williams than for any other Ashe match — many of them stadium workers wanting to see the 38-year-old legend.
Serena, after battling back from a 2-0 deficit, was serving at 4-4 in the first set and faced a critical break point at 30-40. She pounded out two straight aces, after which she clenched her fist and then delivered a service winner off the tip of Ahn’s racket.
Williams won 85 percent of her first serves (33 of 39) as Ahn didn’t have enough weapons to counter.


newyorkpost--2020-09-01--Mets’ trade deadline flurry sends strong clubhouse message

BALTIMORE — Todd Frazier , Robinson Chirinos and Miguel Castro alone won ’ t be enough to resurrect this Mets season — that will take a team effort — but the trade-deadline additions of the three veterans sent a message through the clubhouse that there is still hope for 2020 .
And with just 3 ½ weeks remaining in the regular season , and the Mets beginning Tuesday ’ s play with a four-game losing streak , five games below .500 , hope is a commodity .
“ We ’ re always trying to get better , ” Jeff McNeil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened a two-game series with the Orioles .
“ We have got three new guys coming in , we have got Todd Frazier back , who is fantastic in the clubhouse and gets along great with all the guys , so I know we ’ re extremely happy to have him coming back , along with the other two .
We have just got to start playing good baseball again and I hope we get on a roll here and get a playoff spot.
” The expanded postseason structure , in which eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still leaves October baseball as a possibility for the Mets , provided they can improve .
They began play 2 ¹/₂ games behind the Marlins and Phillies for second place in the NL East .
That fact is significant in that second-place teams will qualify for the postseason , along with the division winners and two wild cards from the remaining teams .
Frazier , Chirinos and Castro are expected to report to the team on Wednesday .
The trio was acquired in separate deals Monday with the Rangers and Orioles , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-handed bat , backup catcher and reliever .
Frazier , who played for the Mets in 2018-19 , is the most familiar name of the group and will be valued for his leadership as much as his offensive potential .
But the Mets also needed an experienced option behind Wilson Ramos at catcher with Tomas Nido on the injured list for undisclosed reasons , and were desperate for bullpen help after moving Seth Lugo into the starting rotation .
“ Any new additions , especially with the energy that is already within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to see like it ’ s new family members coming in , ” manager Luis Rojas said .
“ Especially an old family member like Frazier will come in and I know the guys will have good old fun with him.
” Frazier was part of a group last season that rebounded from a dreadful first half to play meaningful games after the All-Star break .
But the dream of securing a National League wild-card berth faded in late September , with a bullpen that was among the worst in baseball .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chance , albeit one abetted by the number of playoff teams .
“ We got hot the end of last year , we were in the race and we just couldn ’ t finish it off , ” McNeil said .
“ But we have just got to remember that .
Plenty of opportunity for us to play well and get one of those last few spots .
Just have got to be consistent this last month and hopefully get some wins .
“ Last year we had all the fans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was super exciting .
but this year we have got to kind of bring our own energy , and it ’ s going to be great having Frazier back , too , he is going to bring that energy every single day .
”

BALTIMORE — Todd Frazier, Robinson Chirinos and Miguel Castro alone won’t be enough to resurrect this Mets season — that will take a team effort — but the trade-deadline additions of the three veterans sent a message through the clubhouse that there is still hope for 2020.
And with just 3 ½ weeks remaining in the regular season, and the Mets beginning Tuesday’s play with a four-game losing streak, five games below .500, hope is a commodity.
“We’re always trying to get better,” Jeff McNeil before the Mets’ 9-5 loss to the Orioles. “We have got three new guys coming in, we have got Todd Frazier back, who is fantastic in the clubhouse and gets along great with all the guys, so I know we’re extremely happy to have him coming back, along with the other two. We have just got to start playing good baseball again and I hope we get on a roll here and get a playoff spot.”
The expanded postseason structure, in which eight teams from each league will qualify, still leaves October baseball as a possibility for the Mets, provided they can improve. They are 3¹/₂ games behind the Marlins and Phillies for second place in the NL East. That fact is significant in that second-place teams will qualify for the postseason, along with the division winners and two wild cards from the remaining teams.
Frazier, Chirinos and Castro are expected to report to the team on Wednesday. The trio was acquired in separate deals Monday with the Rangers and Orioles, with the hope of filling needs for a right-handed bat, backup catcher and reliever.
Frazier, who played for the Mets in 2018-19, is the most familiar name of the group and will be valued for his leadership as much as his offensive potential. But the Mets also needed an experienced option behind Wilson Ramos at catcher with Tomas Nido on the injured list for undisclosed reasons, and were desperate for bullpen help after moving Seth Lugo into the starting rotation.
“Any new additions, especially with the energy that is already within the team, any new additions guys are going to see like it’s new family members coming in,” manager Luis Rojas said. “Especially an old family member like Frazier will come in and I know the guys will have good old fun with him.”
Frazier was part of a group last season that rebounded from a dreadful first half to play meaningful games after the All-Star break. But the dream of securing a National League wild-card berth faded in late September, with a bullpen that was among the worst in baseball.
The Mets have again reached September with a chance, albeit one abetted by the number of playoff teams.
“We got hot the end of last year, we were in the race and we just couldn’t finish it off,” McNeil said. “But we have just got to remember that. Plenty of opportunity for us to play well and get one of those last few spots. Just have got to be consistent this last month and hopefully get some wins.
“Last year we had all the fans and every game was fun at Citi Field, it was super exciting. but this year we have got to kind of bring our own energy, and it’s going to be great having Frazier back, too, he is going to bring that energy every single day.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-01--‘Black-ish’ Election Special to Air Ahead of Season 7 Premiere

Black-ish is taking it to the ballot box in a partially animated and election themed special to air early next month .
Directed by Oscar winner Matthew A. Cherry , the back-to-back episodes will be broadcast on October 4 on ABC .
The only caveat in that plan is if the Orlando bubbled NBA Finals are forced to shift their schedule , which would obviously have a significant ripple effect over the entire ABC programming chart .
Also , “ Election Special Pt .
1 ” and the animated “ Election Special Pt .
2 ” are not the Season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comedy .
Having been enshrined on Wednesdays in the Disney-owned net ’ s fall schedule back in late June , black-ish ’ s debut date will be revealed in the next week or so by ABC along with the official start of several other shows .
If all things go to that plan , that Season 7 opener of the Anthony Anderson-led and Tracee Ellis Ross-led series should be in late October , I hear .
With production just now gearing up on the series with coronavirus protective protocols , the animated special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director serves a dual purpose .
It is clearly topical heading into the final month before a COVID-19 hobbled America decides if Joe Biden or Donald Trump will be sworn in as POTUS on January 20 , 2021 .
The special also buys black-ish some additional time to be ready for a full season coming out of the prolonged production stoppage of the pandemic .
Written by Eric Horsted , the live action “ Election Special Pt .
1 ” will see Marcus Scribner ’ s Junior pumped about finally being able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been dropped from the voters list – and discovering the realities of why that occurred .
The animated “ Election Special Pt .
2 ” is penned by Graham Towers & Ben Deeb .
That 10:30 – 11 PM ET episode early next month sees the Peter Mackenzie portrayed Stevens from Dre ’ s ( Anderson ) ad agency make a lunge for a Congressional seat .
A lunge that takes Dre and his family down to the underbelly of modern day politics .
Never one to shy away from political , racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ censored “ Please , Baby , Please ” episode finally saw the light of day on Hulu last month .
Set to air in early 2018 , the very political 13th episode of the comedy ’ s fourth season was suddenly pulled from the schedule by the network .
Later that spring , an ABC spokesperson said : “ One of the things that has always made Black-ish so special is how it deftly examines delicate social issues in a way that simultaneously entertains and educates.
” Dropping the hammer , the net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on this episode , there were creative differences we were unable to resolve.
” Now , with Disney ’ s purchase of most of Fox ’ s assets long in the rearview and America having a new national conversation about systemic racism and police violence , that situation was clearly resolved .
Up for multiple Emmy nominations this year , black-ish is executive produced by Barris , Anderson , Courtney Lilly , Laura Gutin Peterson , Laurence Fishburne , Helen Sugland , E. Brian Dobbins and Michael Petok .
The show is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a part of Disney Television Studios , alongside 20th Television and Touchstone Television .

Black-ish is taking it to the ballot box in a partially animated and election themed special to air early next month.
Directed by Oscar winner Matthew A. Cherry, the back-to-back episodes will be broadcast on October 4 on ABC. The only caveat in that plan is if the Orlando bubbled NBA Finals are forced to shift their schedule, which would obviously have a significant ripple effect over the entire ABC programming chart.
Also, “Election Special Pt. 1” and the animated “Election Special Pt. 2” are not the Season 7 premiere of the Kenya Barris created comedy.
Having been enshrined on Wednesdays in the Disney-owned net’s fall schedule back in late June, black-ish’s debut date will be revealed in the next week or so by ABC along with the official start of several other shows. If all things go to that plan, that Season 7 opener of the Anthony Anderson-led and Tracee Ellis Ross-led series should be in late October, I hear.
With production just now gearing up on the series with coronavirus protective protocols, the animated special under the watch of the Hair Love director serves a dual purpose. It is clearly topical heading into the final month before a COVID-19 hobbled America decides if Joe Biden or Donald Trump will be sworn in as POTUS on January 20, 2021. The special also buys black-ish some additional time to be ready for a full season coming out of the prolonged production stoppage of the pandemic.
Written by Eric Horsted, the live action “Election Special Pt. 1” will see Marcus Scribner’s Junior pumped about finally being able to vote, only to find he has been dropped from the voters list – and discovering the realities of why that occurred. The animated “Election Special Pt. 2” is penned by Graham Towers & Ben Deeb. That 10:30 – 11 PM ET episode early next month sees the Peter Mackenzie portrayed Stevens from Dre’s (Anderson) ad agency make a lunge for a Congressional seat. A lunge that takes Dre and his family down to the underbelly of modern day politics.
Never one to shy away from political, racial and cultural realities, black-ish‘s censored “Please, Baby, Please” episode finally saw the light of day on Hulu last month.
Set to air in early 2018, the very political 13th episode of the comedy’s fourth season was suddenly pulled from the schedule by the network. Later that spring, an ABC spokesperson said: “One of the things that has always made Black-ish so special is how it deftly examines delicate social issues in a way that simultaneously entertains and educates.” Dropping the hammer, the net went on to say: “However, on this episode, there were creative differences we were unable to resolve.”
Now, with Disney’s purchase of most of Fox’s assets long in the rearview and America having a new national conversation about systemic racism and police violence, that situation was clearly resolved.
Up for multiple Emmy nominations this year, black-ish is executive produced by Barris, Anderson, Courtney Lilly, Laura Gutin Peterson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, E. Brian Dobbins and Michael Petok. The show is produced by ABC Signature. ABC Signature is a part of Disney Television Studios, alongside 20th Television and Touchstone Television.
Where to watch Black-ish


newyorkpost--2020-09-02--What is the Future of ‘Chef’s Table’ on Netflix??

Over five years ago , a super stylish food docuseries called Chef ’ s Table premiered on Netflix and became a stealth mega-hit .
Inspired by creator David Gelb ’ s hugely successful film , Jiro Dreams of Sushi , each episode of Chef ’ s Table focused on the life and work of an internationally-renowned chef , positioning them as heroes and their dishes as works of fine art .
Chef ’ s Table was also coincidentally Netflix ’ s very first original docuseries .
While the show has ushered in an avalanche of similar artsy series , food-centric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet another spin-off — Chef ’ s Table : BBQ — what comes next for the Chef ’ s Table franchise itself ?
2020 doesn ’ t just mark the show ’ s five year anniversary , but a crisis moment for the food industry .
As COVID-19 has closed down restaurants and culinary institutions like Bon Appétit face a moral reckoning , what more does Chef ’ s Table have to say about food , and what does Chef ’ s Table : BBQ tells us about the franchise ’ s own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premiered in 2015 , it was riding a cresting wave within foodie culture .
It was a time where chefs were treated like rockstar kings .
There had not yet been reckonings with regard to pervasive sexism , racism , classism and abuse within the industry .
And the first season of Chef ’ s Table seems to reflect this old attitude .
Of the six chefs profiled only one , Niki Nakayama , wasn ’ t a white man .
The style of cooking on display was Michelin-star rated and accepted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in just five short years Chef ’ s Table has evolved to include the voices of chefs all over the globe .
Some of whom wouldn ’ t necessarily refer to themselves as chef ’ s , but custodians of a way of life .
( Think Jeong Kwan or Chef ’ s Table : BBQ ’ s Rosalia Chay Chuc . )
The show ’ s scope has evolved so much that the storytelling has demanded spin-offs , like Chef ’ s Table : France , Chef ’ s Table : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street Food .
The fact that executive producers David Gelb , Andrew Fried , and Brian McGinn have taken it upon themselves to examine food outside of the Michelin guide suggest that they sensed the industry ’ s changing tides ahead of time .
Or , at the very least , recognized the limitations of the show ’ s original ethos .
Which brings us to today ’ s launch of Chef ’ s Table : BBQ .
The four-part season focuses on the art of the pitmaster .
Each episode seems to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the idea of precision cooking or aesthetics over flavor .
Even the Lennox Hastie episode , the most traditional “ chef ” in the bunch , has a philosophical quandary about the value of industry recognition .
The series features an 85-year-old Texas spitfire named Tootsie Tomanetz , the aforementioned Hastie , South Carolina ’ s own Rodney Scott , and traditional Mayan chef Rosalia Chay Chuc ( who has been already featured on another Netflix ’ s series , Ugly Delicious ) .
All four stories celebrate the twin forces of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ episodes are made with the same craft that has come to define Chef ’ s Table as a brand .
But what ’ s next for Chef ’ s Table ?
I ask this as an ardent fan of the series and also as a critic who wonders if there ’ s still space for the series in Netflix ’ s stable of food docs .
Shows like Salt , Fat , Acid , Heat and Ugly Delicious have taken the style of Chef ’ s Table and expanded upon it .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand out Samin Nosrat while Ugly Delicious is as much of a groundbreaking travelogue as it is living diary for host David Chang .
Chef ’ s Table : BBQ is not only a brilliant riff on the franchise ’ s original formula , but an acknowledgement of that formula ’ s limitations .
The hyper-edited food symphonies and Vivaldi riffs have become their own cliché ( and I ’ m not sure they helped the presentation of full hog BBQ ) .
The idea that kitchens run on the engine of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushback as it ’ s become clear how much a staff is the lifeblood of a restaurant .
And what comes next for restaurants themselves ?
As 2020 hurls challenges at us all , will all future Chef ’ s Table episodes be steeped in COVID-19 crises ?
The Chef ’ s Table franchise has dazzled audiences for years and helped Netflix find its footing in the world of food television .
Where it goes next , audiences are sure to follow .
But between the wanderlust of the Street Food series and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Table : BBQ…does the Chef ’ s Table team want to mix it up ?
Or continue to pay homage to chef ’ s as gods of food ?

Over five years ago, a super stylish food docuseries called Chef’s Table premiered on Netflix and became a stealth mega-hit. Inspired by creator David Gelb’s hugely successful film, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, each episode of Chef’s Table focused on the life and work of an internationally-renowned chef, positioning them as heroes and their dishes as works of fine art.
Chef’s Table was also coincidentally Netflix’s very first original docuseries. While the show has ushered in an avalanche of similar artsy series, food-centric programming, and as of today, yet another spin-off — Chef’s Table: BBQ — what comes next for the Chef’s Table franchise itself? 2020 doesn’t just mark the show’s five year anniversary, but a crisis moment for the food industry. As COVID-19 has closed down restaurants and culinary institutions like Bon Appétit face a moral reckoning, what more does Chef’s Table have to say about food, and what does Chef’s Table: BBQ tells us about the franchise’s own ambitions?
When Chef’s Table premiered in 2015, it was riding a cresting wave within foodie culture. It was a time where chefs were treated like rockstar kings. There had not yet been reckonings with regard to pervasive sexism, racism, classism and abuse within the industry. And the first season of Chef’s Table seems to reflect this old attitude. Of the six chefs profiled only one, Niki Nakayama, wasn’t a white man. The style of cooking on display was Michelin-star rated and accepted by the gatekeepers of the industry.
However, in just five short years Chef’s Table has evolved to include the voices of chefs all over the globe. Some of whom wouldn’t necessarily refer to themselves as chef’s, but custodians of a way of life. (Think Jeong Kwan or Chef’s Table: BBQ’s Rosalia Chay Chuc.) The show’s scope has evolved so much that the storytelling has demanded spin-offs, like Chef’s Table: France, Chef’s Table: BBQ, and unofficial sister show, Street Food. The fact that executive producers David Gelb, Andrew Fried, and Brian McGinn have taken it upon themselves to examine food outside of the Michelin guide suggest that they sensed the industry’s changing tides ahead of time. Or, at the very least, recognized the limitations of the show’s original ethos.
Which brings us to today’s launch of Chef’s Table: BBQ. The four-part season focuses on the art of the pitmaster. Each episode seems to, in its own way, scoff at the idea of precision cooking or aesthetics over flavor. Even the Lennox Hastie episode, the most traditional “chef” in the bunch, has a philosophical quandary about the value of industry recognition. The series features an 85-year-old Texas spitfire named Tootsie Tomanetz, the aforementioned Hastie, South Carolina’s own Rodney Scott, and traditional Mayan chef Rosalia Chay Chuc (who has been already featured on another Netflix’s series, Ugly Delicious). All four stories celebrate the twin forces of community and tradition. And all four episodes are made with the same craft that has come to define Chef’s Table as a brand.
But what’s next for Chef’s Table? I ask this as an ardent fan of the series and also as a critic who wonders if there’s still space for the series in Netflix’s stable of food docs. Shows like Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat and Ugly Delicious have taken the style of Chef’s Table and expanded upon it. The former was a brilliant showcase for Cooked stand out Samin Nosrat while Ugly Delicious is as much of a groundbreaking travelogue as it is living diary for host David Chang.
Chef’s Table: BBQ is not only a brilliant riff on the franchise’s original formula, but an acknowledgement of that formula’s limitations. The hyper-edited food symphonies and Vivaldi riffs have become their own cliché (and I’m not sure they helped the presentation of full hog BBQ). The idea that kitchens run on the engine of one person’s genius alone has garnered pushback as it’s become clear how much a staff is the lifeblood of a restaurant. And what comes next for restaurants themselves? As 2020 hurls challenges at us all, will all future Chef’s Table episodes be steeped in COVID-19 crises?
The Chef’s Table franchise has dazzled audiences for years and helped Netflix find its footing in the world of food television. Where it goes next, audiences are sure to follow. But between the wanderlust of the Street Food series and the tonal shift in Chef’s Table: BBQ…does the Chef’s Table team want to mix it up? Or continue to pay homage to chef’s as gods of food?
Watch Chef's Table: BBQ on Netflix


newyorkpost--2020-09-02--California DA’s new policy to consider looters’ ‘needs’ before charging them

Rioters and looters would lose federal unemployment benefits and be ...

A California district attorney is requiring her prosecutors to consider looters’ “needs” when weighing criminal charges against them.
The new mandate, set forth by Contra Costa County District Attorney Diane Becton, makes it tougher to prosecute looting cases in the county, which sits just outside San Francisco.
Investigators must now consider “was this theft offense substantially motivated by the state of emergency, or simply a theft offense which occurred contemporaneously to the declared state of emergency?,” according to the policy reported by local outlet East County Today.
In making that determination, they must also consider five other factors, including “was the theft committed for financial gain or personal need?”
The new policy comes amid the swell of protests, looting and riots in the wake of police-involved shootings of black people across the country.
Becton, a 22-year judge in Contra Costa County who was elected DA in 2017, is the county’s first female and African American to serve as the county’s chief law enforcement officer.
Her new policy drew strong rebukes from Antioch Mayor Sean Wright and the president of the Antioch police union.
“When I read the policy, it was disturbing,” Wright told East County Today. “I understand the difference between protesting and looting. Peaceful protesting is okay, looting is not.
“For the District Attorney to put out that kind of plan is irresponsible and where do you exactly draw the line on need because these are people’s businesses that are being impacted and livelihoods that are being destroyed.”
Steve Aiello, president of the Antioch Police Officers Association, called the guidelines “reckless,” saying they hurt the “community, local business and business owners.”
“It shows the District Attorney’s Office is picking and choosing the types of crimes it will prosecute versus just following the laws on the books,” he said. “At what point does our District Attorney’s Office advocate for the victims. If it’s not the District Attorney’s Office, who then becomes the advocate and safety net for the victims and ensuring restitution is made.”
DA spokesman Scott Alonso said the new policy was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic and noted that the office has no recent evidence of prosecuting looters during a state of emergency.
“As you know, when evaluating any criminal case our prosecutors look at the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Alonso told East County Today. “These guidelines are consistent with how we evaluate criminal cases. The policy does not say we won’t file these types of cases.”
Looting carries a sentence of one year in county jail.
Becton recently penned an opinion piece for Politico magazine, along with four other DAs who are black women — Satana Deberry in Durham County, North Carolina, Kim Gardner in St. Louis, Missouri, Kim Foxx in Cook County, Illinois, and Rachael Rollins in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
The article consists of 11 pieces of criminal justice reform that they say are designed to fix a “flawed system” that wrongly targets black people and people of color.


newyorkpost--2020-09-02--‘Awful’ sound quality in ‘Tenet’ divides Christopher Nolan fans

The boffo global box office for “ Tenet ” is proof of the public appetite for Christopher Nolan ’ s abilities as a filmmaker , but as the film opens in more countries and , gradually , the United States , familiar questions are being raised about the director ’ s idiosyncratic approach to sound , and its impact on how much — or how little — of the film audiences are able to comprehend .
Messages posted on Reddit in the past week reflect some of the frustration among filmgoers .
User Moff_tarkin wrote , “ The sound mix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reduced my enjoyment of this movie considerably , ” while user Linubidix said , “ There was some crucial dialogue that was nearly inaudible.
” Elsewhere , user JaydenSpark remarked , “ I couldn ’ t hear a solid 30 minutes of dialogue because everyone was mumbling through masks.
” And so it continued .
Many commentators also noted that similar complaints had been voiced about previous Nolan films .
In “ The Dark Knight Rises , ” for example , Tom Hardy ’ s Bane wore a heavy muzzle that garbled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ character has become a cultural touchpoint for incomprehensible dialogue in movies .
Meanwhile , foghorn scores in “ Dark Knight Rises ” and “ Inception , ” as well as “ Interstellar , ” also serve to overwhelm the dialogue .
“ This isn ’ t unusual for Chris ’ films , ” says a studio insider .
“ But with eight nominations for sound and five wins , the record speaks for itself.
” One U.K. exhibitor responding to gripes about inaudible exchanges in “ Tenet ” said on Twitter that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that it was switching to a digital version for improved sound quality .
Given that these complaints were trickling in from multiple venues in different cities , towns and countries , that makes it seem as if all of this is a deliberate artistic choice .
That makes it even more exasperating for some .
The frustration is heightened further because of the pent-up anticipation caused by the COVID-19 shutdown , and the repeated delays to “ Tenet ’ s ” release .
Nolan ’ s status as “ the savior of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one European exhibition professional recently , has only added to the weight of expectation the film has had to carry .
Sound professionals contacted by Variety were reluctant to comment on the work of others , especially given the stellar track record of “ Tenet ’ s ” sound team , led by supervising sound editor Richard King , who won Oscars for Nolan ’ s “ The Dark Knight , ” “ Inception ” and “ Dunkirk , ” and received an Oscar nomination for “ Interstellar.
” One supervising sound editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition of anonymity , notes that “ the sound mixes for Christopher Nolan films are painstakingly considered .
Everything you hear ( or don ’ t hear ) is the result of “ ultra-conscious direction.
” He adds : “ If you understand ‘ the gist ’ of the dialogue , then they ’ re happy .
As a dialogue editor I prefer to understand each word , but that ’ s my preference.
” Mentioning that the film had an “ excellent sound team , ” an award-winning sound mixer says : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push the envelope .
He ’ s an artist and I don ’ t think he believes in working to the lowest common denominator of projection environments.
” He adds : “ When you are listening in a perfect mixing theater environment and push the limits of the system , it ’ s surprising how much this sound mix can translate differently in different theaters.
” Peter Albrechtsen , a sound designer who worked on “ Dunkirk , ” disagrees .
Nolan tries to ensure that “ every cinema is playing the film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he claims .
“ And that ’ s why he ’ s still mixing sound in 5.1 , even though we now have Atmos , because that ’ s the format most cinemas have.
” In Albrechtsen ’ s opinion , “ Tenet ” is “ a spectacular movie.
” He likens it to a “ James Bond movie on steroids.
” The way Nolan uses sound is “ very visceral , ” he says .
“ It is a physical experience.
” He adds : “ It ’ s a very intense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why , for some , that ’ s quite overwhelming .
The environments in his film are very vibrant , ” and their complex sound design helps create that , he says .
Although he concedes that “ small dialogue details ” may be difficult to catch as a consequence , he likes the fact that everything isn ’ t “ served up on a plate ” for the viewer .
“ You have to be on your toes to really get all the details , ” he says .
Albrechtsen notes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dialogue Replacement ) — the process by which dialogue is re-recorded in a sound studio — so the dialogue on his films is mostly production sound .
“ This means that the dialogue might be a little more gritty , ” he says .
“ But it also feels extremely real and I really like the contrast between this and the intense sonic soundscapes of effects and ambiences.
” In comparison , he says , most big effects movies use a lot of ADR , so the audio is “ very clean.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in “ Tenet ” is “ extremely creative ” in the way that it “ utilizes sound effects backwards and forwards , ” which reinforces the concept of inverted time in the story .
He accepts that Nolan ’ s use of sound as part of a film ’ s storytelling divides cinemagoers and critics alike , with some finding it too much , and others being “ exhilarated ” by it .
But this , he says , is part of Nolan ’ s identity as a filmmaker .
To bear the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cinema ” is too much for any filmmaker , Albrechtsen says , but Nolan ’ s “ passion for cinema is very inspiring , ” nonetheless .

The boffo global box office for “Tenet” is proof of the public appetite for Christopher Nolan’s abilities as a filmmaker, but as the film opens in more countries and, gradually, the United States, familiar questions are being raised about the director’s idiosyncratic approach to sound, and its impact on how much — or how little — of the film audiences are able to comprehend.
Messages posted on Reddit in the past week reflect some of the frustration among filmgoers. User Moff_tarkin wrote, “The sound mix was awful. This is really unacceptable and reduced my enjoyment of this movie considerably,” while user Linubidix said, “There was some crucial dialogue that was nearly inaudible.” Elsewhere, user JaydenSpark remarked, “I couldn’t hear a solid 30 minutes of dialogue because everyone was mumbling through masks.” And so it continued.
Many commentators also noted that similar complaints had been voiced about previous Nolan films. In “The Dark Knight Rises,” for example, Tom Hardy’s Bane wore a heavy muzzle that garbled so many of his lines that the character has become a cultural touchpoint for incomprehensible dialogue in movies. Meanwhile, foghorn scores in “Dark Knight Rises” and “Inception,” as well as “Interstellar,” also serve to overwhelm the dialogue.
“This isn’t unusual for Chris’ films,” says a studio insider. “But with eight nominations for sound and five wins, the record speaks for itself.”
One U.K. exhibitor responding to gripes about inaudible exchanges in “Tenet” said on Twitter that the fault lay with the 35mm print and said that it was switching to a digital version for improved sound quality. Given that these complaints were trickling in from multiple venues in different cities, towns and countries, that makes it seem as if all of this is a deliberate artistic choice. That makes it even more exasperating for some.
The frustration is heightened further because of the pent-up anticipation caused by the COVID-19 shutdown, and the repeated delays to “Tenet’s” release. Nolan’s status as “the savior of cinema,” in the words of one European exhibition professional recently, has only added to the weight of expectation the film has had to carry.
Sound professionals contacted by Variety were reluctant to comment on the work of others, especially given the stellar track record of “Tenet’s” sound team, led by supervising sound editor Richard King, who won Oscars for Nolan’s “The Dark Knight,” “Inception” and “Dunkirk,” and received an Oscar nomination for “Interstellar.”
One supervising sound editor, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, notes that “the sound mixes for Christopher Nolan films are painstakingly considered.
Everything you hear (or don’t hear) is the result of “ultra-conscious direction.” He adds: “If you understand ‘the gist’ of the dialogue, then they’re happy. As a dialogue editor I prefer to understand each word, but that’s my preference.”
Mentioning that the film had an “excellent sound team,” an award-winning sound mixer says: “I know Nolan does like to push the envelope. He’s an artist and I don’t think he believes in working to the lowest common denominator of projection environments.”
He adds: “When you are listening in a perfect mixing theater environment and push the limits of the system, it’s surprising how much this sound mix can translate differently in different theaters.”
Peter Albrechtsen, a sound designer who worked on “Dunkirk,” disagrees. Nolan tries to ensure that “every cinema is playing the film exactly as he wants it,” he claims. “And that’s why he’s still mixing sound in 5.1, even though we now have Atmos, because that’s the format most cinemas have.”
In Albrechtsen’s opinion, “Tenet” is “a spectacular movie.” He likens it to a “James Bond movie on steroids.”
The way Nolan uses sound is “very visceral,” he says. “It is a physical experience.” He adds: “It’s a very intense sonic experience, and I can see why, for some, that’s quite overwhelming. The environments in his film are very vibrant,” and their complex sound design helps create that, he says.
Although he concedes that “small dialogue details” may be difficult to catch as a consequence, he likes the fact that everything isn’t “served up on a plate” for the viewer. “You have to be on your toes to really get all the details,” he says.
Albrechtsen notes that the filmmaker rarely uses ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) — the process by which dialogue is re-recorded in a sound studio — so the dialogue on his films is mostly production sound. “This means that the dialogue might be a little more gritty,” he says. “But it also feels extremely real and I really like the contrast between this and the intense sonic soundscapes of effects and ambiences.” In comparison, he says, most big effects movies use a lot of ADR, so the audio is “very clean.”
He says the “sonic experience” in “Tenet” is “extremely creative” in the way that it “utilizes sound effects backwards and forwards,” which reinforces the concept of inverted time in the story.
He accepts that Nolan’s use of sound as part of a film’s storytelling divides cinemagoers and critics alike, with some finding it too much, and others being “exhilarated” by it. But this, he says, is part of Nolan’s identity as a filmmaker.
To bear the expectation of being “the savior of cinema” is too much for any filmmaker, Albrechtsen says, but Nolan’s “passion for cinema is very inspiring,” nonetheless.
Brent Lang contributed to this report.


newyorkpost--2020-09-02--Trump, Ilhan Omar accuse MSNBC’s Joy Reid of on-air ‘Islamophobia’

A spokesperson for Reid did not immediately respond to a ...

In a rare instance of mutual outrage, President Trump and Rep. Ilhan Omar are both slamming MSNBC host Joy Reid for her controversial claims during Tuesday night’s episode of her show about “the way Muslims act.”
Reid, who took over the 7 p.m. hour of the network’s primetime lineup in July, is facing backlash over remarks she made while examining violence committed by Trump supporters, and his alleged unwillingness to denounce them.
The MSNBC host noted that the president liked a tweet praising accused Kenosha killer Kyle Rittenhouse and would not condemn his supporters for shooting paintball guns and Mace at racial justice agitators in Portland, before attempting to argue that Trump was radicalizing his base.
“When leaders — let’s say in the Muslim world talk a lot of violent talk and encourage their supporters to be willing to commit violence including on their own bodies in order to win against whoever they decide is the enemy, we in the US media describe that as they are radicalizing these people, particularly when they’re radicalizing young people. That’s how we talk about the way Muslims act,” Reid said.
“When you see what Donald Trump is doing, is that any different from what we describe as radicalizing people?” she then asked.
After her remarks, viewers and lawmakers alike were quick to express their outrage.
Omar (D-Minn.), a member of “The Squad” of progressive lawmakers and one of the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress, took to Twitter soon after seeing Reid’s comments.
“Honestly, this kinda of casual Islamophobia is hurtful and dangerous,” she wrote. “We deserve better and an apology for the painful moment for so many Muslims around our country should be forthcoming.”
Trump, who has been in multiple feuds with “The Squad,” echoed Omar’s sentiments in his own tweet posted early Wednesday.
“Like Fredo at Fake News @CNN, the very untalented Joy Reid should be fired for this horrible use of the words ‘Muslim Terrorists’. Such xenophobia and racism on MSDNC. Anyone else would be gone, and fast!!!” he wrote on the social media platform. The first part of his tweet was a reference to CNN journalist Chris Cuomo.
Fellow “Squad” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) also said she was pained by the remarks, calling Reid someone she admired and demanding an apology.
“Words matter and these words feed into the harmful anti-Muslim rhetoric & actions that we continue to see in this country. It is even more painful to hear it from someone I admire,” Tlaib wrote. “We deserve an apology.”
Reid is no stranger to controversy. In 2018, a 2006 post on her now-defunct ReidBlog resurfaced in which she peddled a 9/11 conspiracy film that labeled the terrorist attacks an inside job — encouraging followers to watch “Loose Change,” a film produced in part by Infowars’ Alex Jones.
“The fundamental question is: do you believe the official story of 9/11?” Reid’s post read.
“If you do, great. If you don’t, then everything that happened after that is called into serious question. Even if you’re agnostic, or you tend to believe that al-Qaida attacked the World Trade Center and Pentagon and that the government had no warning such a thing could happen, it’s worth taking a second look.”
In 2017, Reid also came under fire when she made anti-gay remarks, admitting she was “probably” homophobic. She initially said she had been hacked and demanded an FBI investigation into the matter, but later apologized.
The blog read in part, “Most straight people cringe at the sight of two men kissing… Most straight people had a hard time being convinced to watch ‘Broke Back Mountain.’ (I admit that I couldn’t go see the movie either, despite my sister’s ringing endorsement, because I didn’t want to watch the two male characters having sex.) Does that make me homophobic? Probably.”
A spokesperson for MSNBC could not immediately be reached by The Post for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-09-02--Lego sales spike as plastic bricks help families through COVID-19 crisis

Lego ’ s sales boomed in the first half of the year as kids and adults alike used its trademark building blocks to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic , the toymaker said Wednesday .
The Danish company reported a 14 percent spike in consumer sales for January through June amid worldwide lockdowns that shut families in their homes to control the spread of COVID-19 .
“ During the first half we attracted new builders of all ages who turned to Lego play to help them through difficult times , ” Lego Group CEO Niels B. Christiansen said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and learning together with Lego bricks and we are seeing more adults than ever before enjoying building our more challenging sets.
” “ Star Wars , ” “ Harry Potter ” and Disney princess-themed sets performed strongly in the six-month period along with classic Lego blocks , the company said , “ proving the appeal of Lego play to fans of all ages and interests.
” Lego ’ s online platforms also saw a surge in use amid the pandemic .
Its digital building instructions were downloaded 2 million times in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 100 million visitors , twice as many as the same period last year , according to the company .
The sales surge helped drive Lego ’ s operating profits up 11 percent year over year to 3.9 billion Danish krone ( about $ 621.6 million ) .
Revenues only rose 7 percent in the first half to 15.7 billion krone ( roughly $ 2.5 billion ) because retailers used up existing inventory as Lego had to temporarily close its factories in Mexico and China .
Lego says it ’ s on track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world in 2020 despite virus-related lockdowns temporarily shutting many shops .
The company said it opened 46 stores in the first half of the year , including 30 in China , the first country hit by COVID-19 .

Lego’s sales boomed in the first half of the year as kids and adults alike used its trademark building blocks to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic, the toymaker said Wednesday.
The Danish company reported a 14 percent spike in consumer sales for January through June amid worldwide lockdowns that shut families in their homes to control the spread of COVID-19.
“During the first half we attracted new builders of all ages who turned to Lego play to help them through difficult times,” Lego Group CEO Niels B. Christiansen said in a statement. “More families are playing and learning together with Lego bricks and we are seeing more adults than ever before enjoying building our more challenging sets.”
Star Wars-, Harry Potter- and Disney princess-themed sets performed strongly in the six-month period along with classic Lego blocks, the company said, “proving the appeal of Lego play to fans of all ages and interests.”
Lego’s online platforms also saw a surge in use amid the pandemic. Its digital building instructions were downloaded 2 million times in the first half and its e-commerce platform saw more than 100 million visitors, twice as many as the same period last year, according to the company.
The sales surge helped drive Lego’s operating profits up 11 percent year over year to 3.9 billion Danish krone (about $621.6 million). Revenues only rose 7 percent in the first half to 15.7 billion krone (roughly $2.5 billion) because retailers used up existing inventory as Lego had to temporarily close its factories in Mexico and China.
Lego says it’s on track to open about 120 new retail stores around the world in 2020 despite virus-related lockdowns temporarily shutting many shops. The company said it opened 46 stores in the first half of the year, including 30 in China, the first country hit by COVID-19.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-09-02--Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler moving to avoid rioters targeting his home

The Democratic mayor of Portland , Ore. is moving from his $ 840,000 condo to avoid rioters who have repeatedly targeted the building , according to a report .
Ted Wheeler wrote to neighbors in his building to say it would be “ best for me and for everyone else ’ s safety and peace ” for him to move from the building that rioters tried to torch on his 58th birthday Monday , according to The Oregonian .
“ I want to express my sincere apologies for the damage to our home and the fear that you are experiencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly wrote , according to a screenshot of the email .
“ It ’ s unfair to all of you who have no role in politics or in my administration.
” The mayor bought his two-bedroom condo in the building with 114 units for $ 840,000 in 2017 , the paper said , citing property records .
It has regularly been a scene of protests , with fireworks lit and lights shone on the building as fires also get lit in the street .
Wheeler has faced harsh criticism for his handling of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 97 consecutive nights since George Floyd ’ s police-custody death in May .
He has sympathized with protesters , called for cops to restrain from arrests and also pledged to defund the police .
President Trump on Sunday called him a “ wacky Radical Left Do Nothing Democrat Mayor of Portland ” who has “ watched great death and destruction of his City during his tenure.
” Portland ’ s police chief , Chuck Lovell , used the arson attack on Wheeler ’ s condo building as proof that “ the nightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our elected officials need to do their part to draw a line in the sand and to hold people accountable , ” he said , calling for “ urgent action.
” “ The violent behavior must end , ” the police chief said .
Wheeler also attacked the “ senseless violence ” which “ range from stupid , to dangerous , to criminal ” — while highlighting alleged police brutality and saying he still stands with protesters .
“ Elected leaders – or those seeking office – who remain silent in the midst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction are equally complicit , ” he wrote .
“ The community must rise up and say ‘ enough is enough ’ and hold all of us accountable .
We can not truly move on together and make the positive changes we want to see until this violence is stopped .
All violence .
“ We can not allow our anger to destroy what we are trying to support , ” he said .
“ I stand by our positive movement for police reform and I stand by the hundreds of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask for more reform , ” he wrote .
“ If you are participating in violence , I want to be clear : I denounce your actions .
… Your actions demonstrate a level of hate and destruction that we WILL NOT condone or tolerate .
”

The Democratic mayor of Portland, Ore., is moving from his $840,000 condo to avoid rioters who have repeatedly targeted the building, according to a report.
Ted Wheeler wrote to neighbors in his building to say it would be “best for me and for everyone else’s safety and peace” for him to move from the building that rioters tried to torch on his 58th birthday Monday, according to The Oregonian.
“I want to express my sincere apologies for the damage to our home and the fear that you are experiencing due to my position,” Wheeler reportedly wrote, according to a screenshot of the email.
“It’s unfair to all of you who have no role in politics or in my administration.”
The mayor bought his two-bedroom condo in the building with 114 units for $840,000 in 2017, the paper said, citing property records. It has regularly been a scene of protests, with fireworks lit and lights shone on the building as fires also get lit in the street.
Wheeler has faced harsh criticism for his handling of the protests in the City of Roses for 97 consecutive nights since George Floyd’s police-custody death in Minneapolis in May. He has sympathized with protesters, called for cops to refrain from arrests and also pledged to defund the police.
President Trump on Sunday called him a “wacky Radical Left Do Nothing Democrat Mayor of Portland” who has “watched great death and destruction of his City during his tenure.”
Portland’s police chief, Chuck Lovell, used the arson attack on Wheeler’s condo building as proof that “the nightly violence is coming at increased cost.”
“Our elected officials need to do their part to draw a line in the sand and to hold people accountable,” he said, calling for “urgent action.”
“The violent behavior must end,” the chief said.
Wheeler also attacked the acts of “senseless violence” that “range from stupid, to dangerous, to criminal” — while highlighting alleged police brutality and saying he still stands with protesters.
“Elected leaders – or those seeking office – who remain silent in the midst of these acts of violence and criminal destruction are equally complicit,” he wrote.
“The community must rise up and say ‘enough is enough’ and hold all of us accountable. We cannot truly move on together and make the positive changes we want to see until this violence is stopped. All violence.
“We cannot allow our anger to destroy what we are trying to support,” he said.
“I stand by our positive movement for police reform and I stand by the hundreds of thousands of Portlanders who want to peacefully protest and ask for more reform,” he wrote.
“If you are participating in violence, I want to be clear: I denounce your actions. … Your actions demonstrate a level of hate and destruction that we WILL NOT condone or tolerate.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-02--Lala Kent is pregnant, expecting first child with fiancé Randall Emmett

“ We are on the Flo app , '' he said .
`` We are ...

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Lala Kent is going to be a mom.
On Wednesday’s episode of her “Give Them Lala… With Randall” podcast, the “Vanderpump Rules” star announced she is pregnant and expecting her first child with fiancé Randall Emmett.
“Today is my 30th birthday and I can’t think of any other way to celebrate than with you guys coming through your headphones and speakers,” Kent said. “And for my 30th birthday, I had the best gift given to me, my body also helped out too… I am pregnant.”
Kent, who has been engaged to film producer Emmett, 49, since 2018, added, “I am so excited, I feel very maternal and motherly.”
“I cry about everything,” she continued. “I look in the refrigerator and it could be empty or full and I’m like, it’s happy or sad.”
Last month, Emmett said he and Kent were “working” to conceive a child together after postponing their wedding due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emmett shares two daughters, London and Rylee, with ex Ambyr Childers.
Kent is the latest “Vanderpump” personality to announce she’s expecting. In June, ousted Bravo star Stassi Schroeder revealed she and fiancé Beau Clark will be welcoming their first child, a girl, in January 2021.
The friends recently vacationed on a houseboat with fellow Vanderpump stars Jax Taylor, Brittany Cartwright, Tom Schwartz, and Katie Maloney.