newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Historic black media Ebony and Jet magazines set for bankruptcy battle

For the first time in its 133 year history , Hearst Magazines ...

The battle for control over Ebony and Jet magazines is coming to a head in federal bankruptcy court in Texas next week.
The publisher of the two storied publications, which have chronicled black culture in America for more than 75 years, is facing a liquidation demand from Parkview Capital Credit, a Houston-based firm that claims it’s owed $11.9 million.
The filing for involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy — which Parkview claims is actually part of a plan to salvage the Ebony and Jet brands and revive them on the Web — comes just weeks after publisher Ebony Media’s former CEO Willard Jackson was fired and removed from the board.
His ouster came amid an investigation into financial transactions he allegedly made without the approval of the company or its creditors, The Wall Street Journal reported last week.
Ebony Media didn’t immediately comment to the Journal on those allegations at the time. Jackson did not return a call from The Post on Thursday.
The battle pits Parkview Chairman Jacob Walthour against CVG Group, a Texas-based buyout firm that counts Jackson as one of its partners and that bought Ebony Media in 2016 from the founding Johnson family.
While Parkview claims Walthour is the rightful CEO, CVG wants to bring in investor Robert Schumaker as the company’s chairman.
In its filing for emergency relief, CVG’s Ebony Capital Partners does not deny that the operating company owes Parkview the money, but insists that since Parkview is an insider running the publishing company, it can’t qualify as a creditor to demand a liquidation.
An attorney for Ebony Capital Partners said that the Chapter 7 motion is, for now, blocking plans for new funding.
“The financing is being worked out,” said the attorney, Lloyd Lim. “There’s a confidential agreement. They are substantially down the road on discussing the replacement of the lender and new capital.”
But Lim declined to reveal the name of a proposed new lender.
“This bankruptcy petition has to be dismissed first,” he said.
Lim said he was unsure of what the plans would be on reviving the print magazine, but said ECP intends to revive the Ebony brand with podcasts, videos and Web publishing.
Ebony, founded in 1945, also included Jet, the pocket-sized publication that famously published the searing photo of 14-year-old Emmett Till lying in his casket with his mother looking on after he was killed in 1955 by a white mob in Mississippi. The photo was the dramatic equivalent of the George Floyd police-slaying video of 2020.
Ebony’s photo archives were not included in the 2016 sale to CVG, but were sold by the Johnson family in a bankruptcy auction for $30 million to philanthropic partners.
Ebony magazine at its peak in the 1980s had circulation of 2.3 million. It chronicled the civil-rights movement in the 1960s and featured cover subjects ranging from Martin Luther King Jr. to Sammy Davis Jr. to then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and future First Lady Michelle Obama.
Jet has not posted anything online in more than a year, but Ebony Media Holdings still holds the rights to the trademark.
At the time of the 2016 sale by Linda Johnson Rice, the daughter of founder John H. Johnson, Ebony still had a monthly print circulation of 1.2 million, although Jet had gone to an all-digital format in 2014. Ebony went all-digital last year.
Staffers and writers had been complaining that they had not been paid almost from the moment CVG took over. In 2018, a group of 45 freelance writers with the National Writers Union hammered out a deal whereby Ebony and CVG would pay off about $80,000 in unpaid invoices dating to 2016.
But a year later, the NWU filed suit in Chicago, claiming Ebony Media Holdings reneged on the agreement. Johnson Rice, who had originally remained involved with the new company as chair emeritus, left the board two years later, unhappy with the new owners.
One of Ebony’s last postings was in January, in which it called for the banning of chokeholds by police.
In its filing, Ebony Capital Partners claimed Parkview had prohibited employees of Ebony Media from posting any new stories, even after the nation was convulsed by protests in the wake of the Floyd killing by Minneapolis police on May 25.
An attorney for Parkview Capital, Fareed Kaisani at the Baker Botts law firm, did not return a call seeking comment.
The emergency hearing in which Ebony Capital is trying to quash Parkview’s Chapter 7 filing is set for Aug. 6.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--‘RHONY’ playboy Harry Dubin spotted with Tiger Woods’ former mistress

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) “ Real Housewives of New @ @ @ @ @ Dubin — who has dated series stars Sonja Morgan , Ramona Singer and Luann de @ @ @ @ @ to Aviva Drescher — seems to have moved on from reality TV .
Tongues are @ @ @ @ @ seen around Palm Beach , Fla. , with Tiger Woods ’ former mistress Rachel Uchitel @ @ @ @ @ spotted at the Breakers and Italian joint Cafe Via Flora .
But Uchitel told us @ @ @ @ @ have been super close friends for years .
He is like family to me.
” @ @ @ @ @ 2014 , and has been going through messy legal battles since .

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“Real Housewives of New York City” playboy Harry Dubin — who has dated series stars Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer and Luann de Lesseps, and was married to Aviva Drescher — seems to have moved on from reality TV.
Tongues are wagging that Dubin has been seen around Palm Beach, Fla., with Tiger Woods’ former mistress Rachel Uchitel.
They’ve been spotted at the Breakers and Italian joint Cafe Via Flora.
But Uchitel told us, “Harry and I have been super close friends for years. He is like family to me.”
She divorced Matt Hahn in 2014, and has been going through messy legal battles since.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Rangers embracing challenge of fan-free playoffs

Truth be told , all that anyone truly wanted out of ...

The Rangers’ exhibition matchup with the Islanders came and went and served its purpose.
Though it resulted in a 2-1 loss, the Rangers got their first taste of competitive hockey since March, had an opportunity to shed any kinks they might have had and escaped without serious injury.
It was also their first fan-less experience, a surreal situation that many players were wary about long before arriving in the Toronto bubble.
“I thought when you’re on the ice playing, it wasn’t a whole lot different,” defenseman Jacob Trouba said. “I think on the bench is when you notice it the most. You can hear everything that’s said. There’s just not that extra buzz.”
That’s why it’ll be important for the Rangers to make their own energy, Trouba pointed out. Those are the kinds of lessons the Rangers were able to learn Wednesday night. Part of this whole downright-weird playoff tournament is pinpointing the unexpected factors that come with it.
“Definitely easier to communicate with teammates on the ice and on the bench,” Chris Kreider said. “There’s some times during the playoffs in certain buildings where you can barely hear yourself think. That’ll be different.”
The Rangers have two days to take what they learned against the Islanders and apply it before taking the ice for Game 1 of the play-in series with the Hurricanes on Saturday.
Following Wednesday’s loss, Kreider said there was “100 percent” enough time for the Rangers to make the necessary adjustments before Saturday.
“There’s going to be stuff you don’t like in every single game and there’s going to be stuff that you can take away from it regardless of what point in the season or playoffs you’re playing and that you can hang your hat on and say we did a good job,” he said. “But for having such a big layoff, going into a very strange situation, strange environment, playing an exhibition game a few days before a playoff game, I thought the boys competed hard and did well and tried to stick to the structure as well as we could have.
“You just want to cut your teeth a little bit going into that first game of the series.”
Kreider acknowledged that this will be some of his younger teammates’ first experience with playoff hockey. He described it as a “war of attrition,” where players need to get “comfortable being uncomfortable.”
As far as taking a loss just before play begins to count, Kreider said it couldn’t have mattered less. In fact, it may have worked in their favor.
“I can tell you that guys are a little pissed off and angry right now after that one,” he said. “Never like losing to the Islanders, having a bit of a chip on our shoulder going into the first playoff round is not a bad thing.”
The Rangers went 4-0 against the Hurricanes this season. Here’s a look at how they did it before renewing acquaintances in the qualifying round of the playoffs:
Nov. 7, Raleigh, N.C.
Rangers 4, Hurricanes 2
In a back-and-forth matchup, Henrik Lundqvist saved 45 of 47 shots to secure the win. Carolina goaltender Petr Mrazek saw just 18 shots. The Hurricanes dominated the first period, but Artemi Panarin put one away with 27.5 seconds left. Canes defenseman Dougie Hamilton tied things up before Brendan Lemieux scored his first goal of the season on the power play. Goals from Filip Chytil and Adam Fox sandwiched a tally from Sebastian Aho in the third.
Nov. 27, MSG
Rangers 3, Hurricanes 2
A hot start allowed the Rangers to secure the game early, and Lundqvist’s 41-save performance didn’t hurt either. After missing 13 games with an upper-body injury, Mika Zibanejad took a flawless cross-ice pass from Fox to open the scoring. Brendan Smith and Fox added a goal each to give the Rangers all they needed.
Dec. 27, MSG
Rangers 5, Hurricanes 3
After Lucas Wallmark gave the Canes a 1-0 lead, the Rangers recorded four straight goals, including two from Zibanejad, to take a 4-1 lead late in the second. Brett Pesce made it a two-goal game before the second intermission and Aho brought the Canes within one a little more than a minute into the third. But Ryan Strome put the game out of reach after converting a pass from Panarin from the left corner. Lundqvist made 39 saves.
Feb. 21, Raleigh, N.C.
Rangers 5, Hurricanes 2
Zibanejad headlined with a goal and two assists as Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves in the Rangers’ seventh straight road victory. Zibanejad opened the scoring with an unassisted breakaway goal in the first. After Brock McGinn tied it up just over three minutes into the second, Jesper Fast and now-Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei recorded a goal each to retake the lead for the Rangers. Goals from Panarin (power play) and Strome sandwiched a goal from Aho to finish out the third.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Large majority of Americans blame China for global spread of COVID-19, survey finds

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
A large majority of Americans blame China for the global spread of the coronavirus as animosity toward the country has soared , according to a new survey .
More than three-quarters of Americans — 78 percent — place a “ great deal or fair amount of the blame ” on China for the virus ’ spread around the world , according to the study published Thursday by the Pew Research Center .
Another 73 percent of respondents said they had “ unfavorable ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that rose 26 percentage points since 2018 , the surveyors found .
The survey polled 1,003 voting-age adults over the phone , with a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points , according to Pew .
Americans hold equally chilly views of China ’ s President Xi Jinping , with 77 percent responding that they either have “ not too much confidence ” or “ no confidence at all ” that he would “ do the right thing ” with regards to world affairs .
Pollsters found Americans also seem poised to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s treatment of Uighur Muslims .
It ’ s been estimated more than 1 million members of the minority ethnic group in the country are being forcibly detained in Chinese concentration camps .
Nearly three-quarters of residents — 73 percent — responded that “ the US should try to promote human rights in China , even if it harms economic relations , ” according to the poll .
Though the poll question did not specifically reference Uighurs .
Americans ’ view of China ’ s standing in the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two countries , were less clear cut .
About 57 percent of responders said they saw China as a “ competitor , ” down from 66 percent of responders when the question was asked back in 2012 .
Twenty-six percent of responders said they viewed China as an “ enemy ” and another 15 percent considered the country to be a “ partner.
” And 51 percent of Americans surveyed believed the US should build a stronger relationship with China , while 46 percent said the US should “ get tougher.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more adversarial stance , with the number of responders choosing to get tough growing 11 percentage points since last year .
And about half of Americans think the U.S. should hold China responsible for the role it played in the outbreak of the coronavirus — even if it means damaging economic and trade relations .
The poll comes as the Trump administration continues tense back-and-forths with China .
The Department of Justice accused Chinese consulates in more than two dozen US cities of aiding undercover Communist Party soldiers who posed as students as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Mike Pompeo last week delivered a scathing speech against China ’ s “ totalitarian ” regime , slamming the Communist Party for oppressing residents , hiding knowledge on the coronavirus ’ origins and for the detention of Uighurs .
“ For too many decades , our leaders have ignored or downplayed the words of brave Chinese dissidents who have warned us about the nature of the regime we ’ re facing , ” Pompeo said last Thursday .
“ We can ’ t ignore it any longer .
”

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
A large majority of Americans blame China for the global spread of the coronavirus as animosity toward the country has soared, according to a new survey.
More than three-quarters of Americans — 78 percent — place a “great deal or fair amount of the blame” on China for the virus’ spread around the world, according to the study published Thursday by the Pew Research Center.
Another 73 percent of respondents said they had “unfavorable” views of the country — a figure that rose 26 percentage points since 2018, the surveyors found.
The survey polled 1,003 voting-age adults over the phone, with a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points, according to Pew.
Americans hold equally chilly views of China’s President Xi Jinping, with 77 percent responding that they either have “not too much confidence” or “no confidence at all” that he would “do the right thing” with regards to world affairs.
Pollsters found Americans also seem poised to support strong actions against China in response to the country’s treatment of Uighur Muslims. It’s been estimated more than 1 million members of the minority ethnic group in the country are being forcibly detained in Chinese concentration camps.
Nearly three-quarters of residents — 73 percent — responded that “the US should try to promote human rights in China, even if it harms economic relations,” according to the poll. Though the poll question did not specifically reference Uighurs.
Americans’ view of China’s standing in the world, as well as the ties between the two countries, were less clear cut.
About 57 percent of responders said they saw China as a “competitor,” down from 66 percent of responders when the question was asked back in 2012. Twenty-six percent of responders said they viewed China as an “enemy” and another 15 percent considered the country to be a “partner.”
And 51 percent of Americans surveyed believed the US should build a stronger relationship with China, while 46 percent said the US should “get tougher.”
But more and more Americans are supporting a more adversarial stance, with the number of responders choosing to get tough growing 11 percentage points since last year.
And about half of Americans think the U.S. should hold China responsible for the role it played in the outbreak of the coronavirus — even if it means damaging economic and trade relations.
The poll comes as the Trump administration continues tense back-and-forths with China. The Department of Justice accused Chinese consulates in more than two dozen US cities of aiding undercover Communist Party soldiers who posed as students as part of spy operations.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week delivered a scathing speech against China’s “totalitarian” regime, slamming the Communist Party for oppressing residents, hiding knowledge on the coronavirus’ origins and for the detention of Uighurs.
“For too many decades, our leaders have ignored or downplayed the words of brave Chinese dissidents who have warned us about the nature of the regime we’re facing,” Pompeo said last Thursday. “We can’t ignore it any longer.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Over 1,500 COVID-19 deaths reported in US, the most in a single day since May

More than 1,500 coronavirus-related fatalities were reported in the US on Thursday — marking the country ’ s worst single-day @ @ @ @ @ The data emerged as Florida , California and North Carolina tallied record-breaking single-day fatality numbers @ @ @ @ @ to rise nationwide , the Washington Post reported Thursday .
The Florida Department of Health @ @ @ @ @ 216 people had died from the illness in the one-day period , setting a morbid @ @ @ @ @ , according to CBS .
Meanwhile , California Gov .
Gavin Newsom said 197 people @ @ @ @ @ the same day , the state ’ s highest fatality numbers in a 24-hour period @ @ @ @ @ in North Carolina .
But despite the grim death numbers for Florida and California , @ @ @ @ @ states have dropped over the last seven days , according to The COVID Tracking Project @ @ @ @ @ , over 151,000 people in the US have died of coronavirus and over 4.4 million @ @ @ @

More than 1,500 coronavirus-related fatalities were reported in the US for Wednesday — marking the country’s worst single-day death rate since May.
The data emerged as Florida, California and North Carolina tallied record-breaking single-day fatality numbers, and as hospitalizations continued to rise nationwide, the Washington Post reported Thursday.
The Florida Department of Health said Wednesday that at least 216 people had died from the illness in the one-day period, setting a morbid new record for the state, according to CBS.
Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said 197 people had died of the virus the same day, the state’s highest fatality numbers in a 24-hour period, while 45 were reported in North Carolina.
But despite the grim death numbers for Florida and California, average weekly cases in the states have dropped over the last seven days, according to The COVID Tracking Project.
As of late Thursday, over 151,000 people in the US have died of coronavirus and over 4.4 million have been infected.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Nicki Minaj’s husband Kenneth Petty lobbies judge to allow him to travel with her

Nicki Minaj ’ s husband , Kenneth Petty , is trying his best to be there for the delivery of @ @ @ @ @ — who has taken on the role of manager for the pregnant Queens rapper — @ @ @ @ @ change his pretrial conditions so he can travel with Minaj on business and be able @ @ @ @ @ it occurs after his probationary curfew .
Petty is registered as a sex offender , @ @ @ @ @ York conviction for attempted rape of a 16-year-old .
He was indicted in March for @ @ @ @ @ sex offender after he moved to California with Minaj last July .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ required to stay in California .
Grammy nominee Minaj this month revealed she is pregnant @ @ @ @ @ Instagram of her cradling her baby bump in a bejeweled bikini and Lucite high heels @

Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, is trying his best to be there for the delivery of their first child.
Petty — who has taken on the role of manager for the pregnant Queens rapper — has requested that a judge change his pretrial conditions so he can travel with Minaj on business and be able to attend the birth if it occurs after his probationary curfew.
Petty is registered as a sex offender, stemming from a 1995 New York conviction for attempted rape of a 16-year-old. He was indicted in March for failing to register as a sex offender after he moved to California with Minaj last July. He’s now on pretrial release and required to stay in California.
Grammy nominee Minaj this month revealed she is pregnant by posting a pic on Instagram of her cradling her baby bump in a bejeweled bikini and Lucite high heels.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Hedge funder loses extra $360M after one of UK’s most expensive divorces

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) A billionaire who settled one of the UK ’ s most expensive divorces in 2014 was ordered to fork over an additional $ 360 million grant to his ex-wife ’ s charity this week .
Hedge funder Sir Christopher Hohn had been duking it out in British court with his ex , Jamie Cooper , since they split over whether a charity the couple co-founded — the Children ’ s Investment Fund Foundation — had to pay a $ 360 million grant to Cooper ’ s new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court explained of the case that , “ Governance issues emerged when their marriage broke down .
The parties agreed that Ms. Cooper should resign as a member and trustee of CIFF , and that CIFF should make a grant of $ 360 million to Big Win Philanthropy , a new charity founded by Ms. Cooper.
” An epic legal battle ensued , including two appeals .
At issue was whether the court could rule on how the sole non-conflicted board member of the Children ’ s Investment Fund Foundation must vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grant .
Hohn is reportedly worth $ 5 billion and is one of the UK ’ s biggest charitable donors .
Matthew Dontzin and David Fleissig , of New York firm Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig , led the team that repped Cooper throughout the dispute .
Dontzin told Page Six in a statement : “ The truth of her claim could not be denied no matter how many legal obstacles they tried to throw at her .
This is a well-deserved and long overdue victory for Ms. Cooper.
” Hohn ’ s charity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling would have “ no significant impact ” on its work .
Both charities help children in developing countries .

A billionaire who settled one of the UK’s most expensive divorces in 2014 was ordered to fork over an additional $360 million grant to his ex-wife’s charity this week.
Hedge funder Sir Christopher Hohn had been duking it out in British court with his ex, Jamie Cooper, since they split over whether a charity the couple co-founded — the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation — had to pay a $360 million grant to Cooper’s new charity, Big Win Philanthropy.
The Supreme Court explained of the case that, “Governance issues emerged when their marriage broke down. The parties agreed that Ms. Cooper should resign as a member and trustee of CIFF, and that CIFF should make a grant of $360 million to Big Win Philanthropy, a new charity founded by Ms. Cooper.”
An epic legal battle ensued, including two appeals. At issue was whether the court could rule on how the sole non-conflicted board member of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation must vote on giving Cooper’s charity the grant.
Hohn is reportedly worth $5 billion and is one of the UK’s biggest charitable donors.
Matthew Dontzin and David Fleissig, of New York firm Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig, led the team that repped Cooper throughout the dispute. Dontzin told Page Six in a statement: “The truth of her claim could not be denied no matter how many legal obstacles they tried to throw at her. This is a well-deserved and long overdue victory for Ms. Cooper.”
Hohn’s charity reportedly said in a statement that the ruling would have “no significant impact” on its work. Both charities help children in developing countries.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Tom Thibodeau’s seriousness is just what Knicks need now

New Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau grew up in New Britain , ...

Maybe it would’ve made a difference if there had been a star-spangled press conference at Madison Square Garden or up at the Knicks’ headquarters in Westchester. Maybe in those usual confines, bedecked in a nice suit, freed to use his dais as a bully pulpit, Tom Thibodeau would’ve carried the day with oration and charm.
Although, honestly, that doesn’t quite seem to be Thibodeau’s genre.
In a lot of ways, then, this was a perfect way for Thibodeau to say hello in the summer of 2020, on a Zoom call, in a Knicks golf shirt, a Brady Bunch square on a computer screen with castmates Leon Rose and Scott Perry. It is impossible to win the press conference when that press conference is on Zoom, anyway, so there was no need to try.
Besides: Knicks fans are tired of victorious press conferences. David Fizdale and Jeff Hornacek were excellent performers on Day 1, less so thereafter. Nobody had a more triumphant press conference than Phil Jackson did in 2014, when he wasn’t just hired to run the Knicks, he was canonized. Winning the press conference is swell.
Winning basketball games thereafter is a lot more useful, and a lot more meaningful.
“Anytime you go into a situation you think about ways you can improve your club,” Thibodeau said Thursday, the day he officially took over the reins of the Knicks. “You start with the players you have, your internal development is paramount. So we start there and add talent in the draft, we’re also looking in free agency to add talent, and we’re looking to trade to add talent. There’s four ways to improve the team. And we’ll look at all of them.”
Thibodeau is a no-nonsense coach with a no-nonsense personality, and if he can joke about how surprising it was to some when they heard he actually took a vacation to Miami this year, sat and fried on a beach, he also makes no pretense that he’s anything other than laser-focused and concentrated on the job at hand.
Others in recent years have accepted this job and spoken in grandiloquent tones about what their vision was for the franchise, and for the future, and they have overwhelmed with the generalities of optimism — which, at the end of the day, translates mostly to wishful thinking. Thibodeau speaks mostly in specifics, and with the authority of a man who has won 59 percent of his games as an NBA coach. He subscribes to five core values: rebounding, defense, low turnovers, sharing the ball and using the paint — passing or penetration — as a fundamental weapon.
Simple, perhaps, but that’s exactly the kind of back-to-basics starting point a team like the Knicks most needs. Speaking of the players he inherits now, Thibodeau said, “But I thought there were some players that really stepped up, and did a good job. But there’s a lot of work to do. One of the most important things when you’re studying a team is just to look at efficiency, and when you see you’re a -6.54, you realize there’s a lot of work. And hopefully we can get the players to play for each other and start building those habits.”
It is also useful to go back 24 years to the day Thibodeau’s friend and coaching guidepost, Jeff Van Gundy, was elevated to the head-coaching job after Don Nelson’s surprise axing 23 games from the end of the season. Van Gundy is another one who was never going to win a press conference in those days, when he was a little-known, hollow-eyed, scratchy-voiced gym rat.
But from the start, the reason he was able to succeed in the job is he wasn’t cowed by the job. He didn’t have a track record like Thibodeau has now, but listen to these very first words he delivered his first day on the job and then ask yourself: Why does that sound so familiar?
“Some coaches believe in giving players a day off,” Van Gundy said in the old Philadelphia Spectrum on March 8, 1996. “Other coaches believe in saving players’ legs. I’m one who believes in practice. I think games are won in practice. It’s not just working hard, it’s working productively. My job is to create a winning, working environment.
“There is no easy answer.”
There wasn’t then. There isn’t now. If the Knicks are to be rehabbed it will come a brick at a time, a nail at a time, a piece at a time. Van Gundy was a serious basketball man, and Thibodeau is a serious basketball man, so serious he sometimes makes Van Gundy look like Jackie the Joke Man by comparison.
But the Knicks need serious now. They require serious. They crave serious. Tom Thibodeau brings that to the dance, and that winning percentage, and a specific belief in how this should all be done. Good. It’s about time.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Oliver Stone says ‘cancel culture’ would end his career today

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Director Oliver Stone has blasted “ cancel f–king culture ” saying he would be “ vilified ” if his films came out today .
The filmmaker behind “ Platoon , ” “ Natural Born Killers ” and “ Wall Street , ” said he ’ d be cast out of Hollywood if he released those films in today ’ s climate .
Stone said : “ I can tell you that if I made any of my films , I don ’ t think I ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ d be attacked .
Shamed .
Whatever you want to call that … culture , cancel f–king culture.
” He added during an appearance on SiriusXM ’ s “ Jim Norton & Sam Roberts , ” “ I mean , it ’ s just impossible .
I would have had to step on so many sensitivities .
You have to have some freedom to make a movie , unfortunately .
“ You have to be rude .
You can be bad .
And you ’ re going to have do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Holy cow .
Do you think I could have made any one of those films ?
”

Director Oliver Stone has blasted “cancel f–king culture” saying he would be “vilified” if his films came out today.
The filmmaker behind “Platoon,” “Natural Born Killers” and “Wall Street,” said he’d be cast out of Hollywood if he released those films in today’s climate.
Stone said: “I can tell you that if I made any of my films, I don’t think I’d last. I’d be vilified. I’d be attacked. Shamed. Whatever you want to call that … culture, cancel f–king culture.”
He added during an appearance on SiriusXM’s “Jim Norton & Sam Roberts,” “I mean, it’s just impossible. I would have had to step on so many sensitivities. You have to have some freedom to make a movie, unfortunately.
“You have to be rude. You can be bad. And you’re going to have do to these things like step on toes. Holy cow. Do you think I could have made any one of those films?”


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Convicted felon with family mob ties accused of defrauding investors

Federal officials say a convicted felon with mob ties and his wife fraudulently raised more than half a billion dollars from investors for their company , which loaned cash to small businesses at interest rates as high as 400 percent .
Convicted felon Joseph LaForte , who goes by the name Joe Mack , and his wife Lisa McElhone founded Par Funding in 2011 — the same year he was released from prison for stealing $ 14 million in a real estate scam and , in a separate case , for running an illegal gambling operation .
Par Funding issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses across the U.S. since its inception , according to a Securities and Exchange Commission ’ s complaint filed July 24 in a Florida federal court .
The company raised the funds from more than 1,200 investors by “ scheming and lying ” — including making the false claim that their loans had a default rate of less than one percent when it was actually more than 10 percent , the complaint alleges .
“ The fraudulent scheme operates behind multiple veils of secrecy built on the defendants ’ lies , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Philadelphia , used unregistered sales agents to raise cash for which they were investigated by Pennsylvania securities regulators in 2018 .
LaForte , whose grandfather , nicknamed “ Joe the Cat , ” and his uncle “ Buddy , ” were made men in the Gambino crime family , went to great lengths to hide his criminal past from potential investors using several aliases , according to Bloomberg and court papers .
The complaint accuses the couple and their agents of violating federal securities law and wants the court to freeze their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a receiver to protect investors .
LaForte and McElhone couldn ’ t immediately be reached for comment .

Federal officials say a convicted felon with mob ties and his wife fraudulently raised more than half a billion dollars from investors for their company, which loaned cash to small businesses at interest rates as high as 400 percent.
Convicted felon Joseph LaForte, who goes by the name Joe Mack, and his wife Lisa McElhone founded Par Funding in 2011 — the same year he was released from prison for stealing $14 million in a real estate scam and, in a separate case, for running an illegal gambling operation.
Par Funding issued $600 million in loans to small businesses across the U.S. since its inception, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission’s complaint filed July 24 in a Florida federal court.
The company raised the funds from more than 1,200 investors by “scheming and lying” — including making the false claim that their loans had a default rate of less than one percent when it was actually more than 10 percent, the complaint alleges.
“The fraudulent scheme operates behind multiple veils of secrecy built on the defendants’ lies,” the complaint charges.
The couple, based in Philadelphia, used unregistered sales agents to raise cash for which they were investigated by Pennsylvania securities regulators in 2018.
LaForte, whose grandfather, nicknamed “Joe the Cat,” and his uncle “Buddy,” were made men in the Gambino crime family, went to great lengths to hide his criminal past from potential investors using several aliases, according to Bloomberg and court papers.
The complaint accuses the couple and their agents of violating federal securities law and wants the court to freeze their assets, impose civil fines and appoint a receiver to protect investors.
LaForte and McElhone couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Yankees’ Gleyber Torres hit by pitch, leaves game vs. Orioles

Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres left Thursday night ’ s game against the Orioles in Baltimore in the fourth inning after @ @ @ @ @ elbow with a pitch in his first at-bat .
Tyler Wade replaced the star shortstop @ @ @ @ @ his second at-bat .
The 23-year-old Torres owned the Orioles last year , hitting .394 @ @ @ @ @ RBIs in 18 games .
The Yankees were scheduled to face the Phillies this week @ @ @ @ @ postponed after Philadelphia faced the Marlins over the weekend and nearly half Miami ’ s @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus pandemic .
So , instead the Yankees played the Orioles Wednesday and Thursday @ @ @ @ @ ’ injury is uncertain .

Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres left Thursday night’s game against the Orioles in Baltimore in the fourth inning after getting hit in the right elbow with a pitch in his first at-bat. Tyler Wade replaced the star shortstop, who flied out in his second at-bat.
The 23-year-old Torres owned the Orioles last year, hitting .394 with 13 homers and 20 RBIs in 18 games. The Yankees were scheduled to face the Phillies this week, but those games were postponed after Philadelphia faced the Marlins over the weekend and nearly half Miami’s roster tested positive for the novel coronavirus pandemic. So, instead the Yankees played the Orioles Wednesday and Thursday.
The status of Torres’ injury is uncertain.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--David Geffen and his megayacht Rising Sun are still at large

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) David Geffen may have stopped @ @ @ @ @ after backlash , but that hasn ’ t stopped others from buzzing about his boat @ @ @ @ @ $ 590 million yacht was seen this week off the Maine coast .
Two weeks @ @ @ @ @ refueling stop in New Bedford , Mass .

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David Geffen may have stopped posting pics from his megayacht after backlash, but that hasn’t stopped others from buzzing about his boat, Rising Sun.
The $590 million yacht was seen this week off the Maine coast.
Two weeks ago, it made a refueling stop in New Bedford, Mass.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Flood’ on Hulu, an Earnest Refugee Story that Showcases Ivanno Jeremiah’s

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Flood’ on Hulu, an Earnest Refugee Story that Showcases Ivanno Jeremiah’s Talent

Now on Hulu , The Flood is the marriage of work and a personal awareness crusade for star and executive producer Lena Headey .
Best known for Game of Thrones , the British actress has been an outspoken advocate for refugees , so it makes sense that she ’ d play an immigration officer who hears the story of Eritrean asylum-seeker who ’ s a fictional representation of , per an opening title card , the world ’ s 70 million refugees , 18,000 of whom have died in their attempts to cross the border to Europe .
THE FLOOD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Gist : The camera hovers high above the highway .
A semi-truck cuts through the English countryside .
Night falls , and the camera zooms in on the vehicle .
The cops hit the siren as it cruises by .
The driver climbs out , and pretends to struggle with the trailer latch .
One cop occasionally shines his flashlight into the woods nearby .
The other grabs the latch and , as he pulls it open , a man leaps from the opening , knife in hand .
They quickly arrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bureaucrat .
She interviews illegal immigrants who are seeking asylum in the U.K. ; as a wily veteran paper-pusher , she ’ s heard every lie and excuse from desperate people willing to do anything to get out of their home countries .
Then she goes home to a depressing apartment , drinks and yearns for her young daughter , who ’ s in the custody of her ex-husband .
She gets up every morning , fills her water bottle with vodka and commutes to work .
Her next assignment made front-page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he leapt out of a truck , attacking cops with a knife .
Her boss ( Iain Glen ) would love it if this were an open-and-shut case : assault the police , go back to your own country , the immigration office marches toward its quota .
Wendy ’ s interrogation room is not the humanization bureau .
She fires questions without even a trace of compassion at the man , Haile ( Ivanno Jeremiah ) , showing little concern that she might be triggering his trauma .
But he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His story is conveyed in a series of flashbacks .
He ’ s wanted for treason — he ’ s a soldier who refused to execute a prisoner in cold blood .
He was tortured for several days , but escaped over the border , through Africa , to the Mediterranean Sea before washing up in Italy .
He ends up in a refugee camp known as “ The Jungle , ” where he meets Faiz ( Peter Singh ) and his pregnant wife Reema ( Mandip Gill ) .
All three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haile reminds them that they ’ re actually four .
They smile .
He ’ s a good man .
But how much weight does goodness carry when you want to cross the border illegally to save your own life ?
What Movies Will It Remind You Of ?
: The Flood has much in common with The Visitor , Sin Nombre , A Better Life and other strong , sympathetic dramas about immigration .
Performance Worth Watching : Jeremiah is absolutely up to the task of bearing the majority of the film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the remarkable scene in which Haile carefully negotiates border passage with a dangerous man , and Jeremiah subtly conveys the character ’ s savvy — he understands that earnestness is a virtue , but but too much honesty will harm his cause .
Memorable Dialogue : Wendy : “ Before you get to your story , I should tell you the British government has carried out an in-depth inquiry and shows that those who returned to Eritrea , those who left illegally , have been- ” Our Take : Haile ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , high-wire drama anchored by Jeremiah ’ s committed performance .
The actor ’ s tone immediately endears us to his conundrum , and has us questioning why a man so impervious to corruption would attack cops with a knife .
It ’ s so blatantly contrary to the truth of his character , and we watch rapt , wanting to learn why .
Strong as it can be at times , The Flood falls into a few pat plot traps as screenwriter Helen Kingston contrives parallels between Wendy and Haile ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of common ground for them .
The Wendy character is frustratingly thin ; the film doesn ’ t seem interested in asking why she — and so many people in our nonfictional world — struggles to empathize with others until they ’ re afflicted with similar hardships .
( And screenwriters everywhere , please recognize the our-mothers-have-the-same-name conceit is forever ruined by Batman v Superman . )
It is noble in its intent , though , asserting the idea that a person ’ s experiences can ’ t be reduced to replies on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a human life shouldn ’ t be determined by a system stooge carrying rubber stamps that say YES or NO .
Suffering is an unavoidable component of the human condition , but when some suffer too much ?
That ’ s a tragedy .
Our Call : STREAM IT .
The Flood is a good-but-not-great indie with a benevolent heart .
It ’ s also a showcase for Ivanno Jeremiah , who deserves an opportunity to grand-slam a juicy Oscar-bait role .
John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his work at johnserbaatlarge.com or follow him on Twitter : @ johnserba .

Where to Stream: The Flood (2019) Powered by Reelgood
Now on Hulu, The Flood is the marriage of work and a personal awareness crusade for star and executive producer Lena Headey. Best known for Game of Thrones, the British actress has been an outspoken advocate for refugees, so it makes sense that she’d play an immigration officer who hears the story of Eritrean asylum-seeker who’s a fictional representation of, per an opening title card, the world’s 70 million refugees, 18,000 of whom have died in their attempts to cross the border to Europe.
THE FLOOD: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
The Gist: The camera hovers high above the highway. A semi-truck cuts through the English countryside. Night falls, and the camera zooms in on the vehicle. The cops hit the siren as it cruises by. The driver climbs out, and pretends to struggle with the trailer latch. One cop occasionally shines his flashlight into the woods nearby. The other grabs the latch and, as he pulls it open, a man leaps from the opening, knife in hand. They quickly arrest him.
Wendy (Headey) is a bureaucrat. She interviews illegal immigrants who are seeking asylum in the U.K.; as a wily veteran paper-pusher, she’s heard every lie and excuse from desperate people willing to do anything to get out of their home countries. Then she goes home to a depressing apartment, drinks and yearns for her young daughter, who’s in the custody of her ex-husband. She gets up every morning, fills her water bottle with vodka and commutes to work. Her next assignment made front-page news in a tabloid rag, because he leapt out of a truck, attacking cops with a knife. Her boss (Iain Glen) would love it if this were an open-and-shut case: assault the police, go back to your own country, the immigration office marches toward its quota.
Wendy’s interrogation room is not the humanization bureau. She fires questions without even a trace of compassion at the man, Haile (Ivanno Jeremiah), showing little concern that she might be triggering his trauma. But he’s honest and credible, a truth-will-set-you-free type. His story is conveyed in a series of flashbacks. He’s wanted for treason — he’s a soldier who refused to execute a prisoner in cold blood. He was tortured for several days, but escaped over the border, through Africa, to the Mediterranean Sea before washing up in Italy. He ends up in a refugee camp known as “The Jungle,” where he meets Faiz (Peter Singh) and his pregnant wife Reema (Mandip Gill). All three want to get to England — but Haile reminds them that they’re actually four. They smile. He’s a good man. But how much weight does goodness carry when you want to cross the border illegally to save your own life?
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: The Flood has much in common with The Visitor, Sin Nombre, A Better Life and other strong, sympathetic dramas about immigration.
Performance Worth Watching: Jeremiah is absolutely up to the task of bearing the majority of the film’s dramatic weight. Take note of the remarkable scene in which Haile carefully negotiates border passage with a dangerous man, and Jeremiah subtly conveys the character’s savvy — he understands that earnestness is a virtue, but but too much honesty will harm his cause.
Memorable Dialogue: Wendy: “Before you get to your story, I should tell you the British government has carried out an in-depth inquiry and shows that those who returned to Eritrea, those who left illegally, have been-”
“Shot,” Haile says, finishing her sentence.
Sex and Skin: None.
Our Take: Haile’s story is suspenseful and engrossing, high-stakes, high-wire drama anchored by Jeremiah’s committed performance. The actor’s tone immediately endears us to his conundrum, and has us questioning why a man so impervious to corruption would attack cops with a knife. It’s so blatantly contrary to the truth of his character, and we watch rapt, wanting to learn why.
Strong as it can be at times, The Flood falls into a few pat plot traps as screenwriter Helen Kingston contrives parallels between Wendy and Haile’s personal lives, creating a tidy patch of common ground for them. The Wendy character is frustratingly thin; the film doesn’t seem interested in asking why she — and so many people in our nonfictional world — struggles to empathize with others until they’re afflicted with similar hardships. (And screenwriters everywhere, please recognize the our-mothers-have-the-same-name conceit is forever ruined by Batman v Superman.)
It is noble in its intent, though, asserting the idea that a person’s experiences can’t be reduced to replies on a questionnaire, that the fate of a human life shouldn’t be determined by a system stooge carrying rubber stamps that say YES or NO. Suffering is an unavoidable component of the human condition, but when some suffer too much? That’s a tragedy.
Our Call: STREAM IT. The Flood is a good-but-not-great indie with a benevolent heart. It’s also a showcase for Ivanno Jeremiah, who deserves an opportunity to grand-slam a juicy Oscar-bait role.
John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read more of his work at johnserbaatlarge.com or follow him on Twitter: @johnserba.
Stream The Flood on Hulu


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--MLB planning shortened doubleheaders to make up for postponed games

MLB has initiated an investigation into how the COVID-19 outbreak ...

A shortened MLB season will include shortened games now, too.
In the wake of several games being postponed because of the Miami Marlins’ coronavirus outbreak, the league and MLB Players Association plan to play seven-inning doubleheaders to make up time, The Post’s Ken Davidoff confirmed Thursday. ESPN first reported the change.
The agreement was reached quickly with their being little time to waste in a season shortened from 162 games to 60, providing extra cover for any future games pushed back due to COVID-19 issues, weather, or other delaying factors.
MLB’s controversial extra innings rule for the season — placing a runner on second base to begin the extra frame — will carry over into the compressed doubleheader, according to ESPN.
The Marlins, Yankees and Phillies have all pushed back games after multiple Miami players tested positive for coronavirus last weekend, with more possible after two Philadelphia team members were found to have the virus this week, as well.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Coronavirus outbreak at USC’s fraternity row infects 40 people

The New York Times surveyed hundreds of colleges from Connecticut ...

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
A coronavirus outbreak has ripped across the University of Southern California’s fraternity row, school officials said Thursday.
At least 40 people living on a street where several of the school’s frats are based have tested positive for COVID-19, chief student health officer Sarah Van Orman told The Los Angeles Times.
“A significant number of the cases were associated with four fraternity houses,” Van Orman said.
To date, around 150 USC students and employees have been infected with the virus.
University officials said the actions of community members off-campus are crucial in curbing the spread of the outbreak.
“Unless all of us understand that right now our only tools are physical distancing and wearing masks, we’re going to continue to have devastation, not only in terms of the economy, our learning, our academics, our jobs, but people dying,” Van Orman said.
“Each of us have to decide what we stand for. Frats need to do that as well.”
Although the outbreak affected frat houses, it wasn’t clear whether those infected included fraternity members, who often lease out rooms during the summer, Van Orman said.
The outbreak among USC frats is mostly over, she added, crediting continued testing and aggressive contact tracing, as well as mandatory quarantining ordered by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
The school first reported 15 positive cases on fraternity row in a July 9 press release.
“We haven’t seen any more cases for the last week or so,” Van Orman said.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks rebuild starts now: ‘A dream come true’

For the first time in nearly eight months , the Knicks ...

New Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau grew up in New Britain, Conn., and still owns his old house — 85 miles from the Knicks’ practice site in Tarrytown.
During his introductory Zoom press conference Thursday, Thibodeau referred to his new position as his “dream job.’’ He said it four times.
“This is a dream come true for me,’’ Thibodeau said. “This is my dream job. … Maybe part of that, I grew up in Connecticut. My father, my family, we grew up as Knicks fans. I’ve been there before, I have a great understanding of New York. I think we have the best city in the world, best arena and the best fans. I was there throughout the ’90s and that was an incredible experience.’’
For the first time in nearly eight months, the Knicks officially have a permanent head coach. They announced it on the first day of the NBA’s 22-team restart, as the Knicks try to restart their dead franchise that has missed the playoffs seven straight years.
Larry Brown once called the Knicks his “dream job’’ and left after one 17-65 disaster. Thibodeau is a former assistant coach from the 1990s glory days who went on to become a marquee coach with the Bulls and even broke Minnesota’s 13-year playoff drought in 2018.
But now Thibodeau may face a bigger task with James Dolan’s moribund Knicks. Asked how he can turn around a perennial mess, Thibodeau didn’t shy away from mentioning a championship, which the team hasn’t won in 47 years.
“You don’t make major jumps without going through each step,” he said. “So I think the first step is to establish the work ethic and how we want to play. There’s a lot of work to do. One of the most important things when you’re studying a team is just to look at efficiency, and when you see your [net rating] is a minus-6.54, you realize there’s a lot of work. And hopefully we can get the players to play for each other and start building those habits.
“Of course the ultimate goal is to bring a championship back to the city, where it’s synonymous with winning and championships, and that’s in New York.’’
Knicks president Leon Rose will be on the hook if Thibodeau’s old-school ways don’t work. Rose, his former agent at Creative Artists Agency, said there was “a comfort level’’ in hiring Thibodeau because of their long-term relationship.
Rose called the 62-year-old Thibodeau “the perfect candidate for this job from the standpoint of he’s going to demand accountability, he’s going to have development and he’s going to create a winning culture.”
“We hired not only a great basketball coach but an elite coach,” Rose said. “His principles and goals embody everything Knicks basketball represents.”
On Saturday, Thibodeau agreed to terms on a five-year deal. Some league insiders estimate the deal could be worth at least $25 million — even with a pandemic discount that likely will cause his Knicks debut to be played without fans in attendance.
Thibodeau thanked Dolan in his prepared remarks and listed 15 coaches from whom he had taken tidbits — from Jeff Van Gundy to Bill Musselman. And Thibodeau called the former Knicks coaches he worked with “the best staff ever assembled. Guys like Brendan Malone, Don Chaney, Jeff Nix, Steve Clifford, Andy Greer, Mike Malone — many head coaches that are in the league today.’’
Thibodeau got the Timberwolves to the playoffs but charges he didn’t connect with Minnesota’s young players led to his firing in January 2019.
Thibodeau declined to go into detail regarding Minnesota.
“It was more of a total rebuild, a team that had not won a lot for a long time,’’ he said. “So I think you take from each experience, but each experience is different.”
Sources indicated Thibodeau was intrigued with the potential opening in Houston but said he was attracted to the Knicks because of cap flexibility and their wealth of draft picks (seven first-rounders in the next four drafts).
“The three main reasons why this job was so appealing to me was the current roster that we have now is young and talented and there’s room for growth,’’ Thibodeau said. “That’s exciting to me. Secondly, is to work for Leon and Wes [William Wesley], two people I’ve known for an extremely long time. And thirdly is all the draft picks that have been acquired and also the cap space. We have many different ways to improve the team.’’
Thibodeau tried to dispel his reputation as a basketball-obsessed, humorless drill sergeant who has no other life. He joked at this longtime Knicks writer, saying, “I can’t believe you’re still around’’ and denied all he did during unemployment was visit other teams’ practices — which he did plenty of.
“I went on vacation a couple times,’’ Thibodeau said. “I know people don’t think I do that. But I got away and laid on a beach in Miami for a couple of weeks.’’
The Knicks interviewed 11 candidates over seven weeks, but Thibodeau was reported as the frontrunner the entire time.
“We did our due diligence in this search,” Rose said. “We were open-minded and heard from many diverse candidates with various philosophies. The thoroughness of the search is what we felt the fans deserved. We wanted to get it right.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--President tweets support for NY pizza shop after owner’s Trump flag controversy

President Trump tweeted his support for a Long Island pizza shop on Wednesday after the owner told Fox Business that a woman threatened to drive him out of business over his “ Keep America Great ” flag .
“ Support Patio Pizza and its wonderful owner , Guy Caligiuri , in St. James , Long Island ( N.Y. ) .
Great Pizza !
!
!
” Trump wrote shortly after the interview on “ Varney & Co. ” Caligiuri had told the show ’ s host , Stuart Varney , that the controversy arose last Friday night when a woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a worker over the flag hanging in the back of the pizza place .
When the worker told the customer it was the owner ’ s flag , “ she took offense to that , ” Caligiuri said .
The customer then “ said that she was the administrator of a Facebook page and she was going to post it online , and she was gon na drive me out of business , ” according to Caligiuri .
When told of the encounter , Caligiuri said he brushed it aside .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving calls from friends alerting him to a disparaging post .
Caligiuri said he was told the woman “ posted nasty things about me online and was asking the [ St. James ] community to boycott Patio Pizza.
” A screenshot of the original post was reviewed by Business Insider , who reported the woman posted a photo of the flag and wrote she would no longer patronize Patio Pizza .
Content promoting a community-wide boycott was not found .
Despite the post , Caligiuri said the next day his business was booming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Long Island .
“ They supported our president .
They support the flag that I had hanging in the back of my store , ” he told Fox Business .
“ It ’ s really wonderful .
It ’ s really humbling , ” he concluded .

President Trump tweeted his support for a Long Island pizza shop on Wednesday after the owner told Fox Business that a woman threatened to drive him out of business over his “Keep America Great” flag.
“Support Patio Pizza and its wonderful owner, Guy Caligiuri, in St. James, Long Island (N.Y.). Great Pizza!!!” Trump wrote shortly after the interview on “Varney & Co.”
Caligiuri had told the show’s host, Stuart Varney, that the controversy arose last Friday night when a woman picking up an order voiced her dissent to a worker over the flag hanging in the back of the pizza place.
When the worker told the customer it was the owner’s flag, “she took offense to that,” Caligiuri said.
The customer then “said that she was the administrator of a Facebook page and she was going to post it online, and she was gonna drive me out of business,” according to Caligiuri.
When told of the encounter, Caligiuri said he brushed it aside. But the Long Islander said he later started receiving calls from friends alerting him to a disparaging post.
Caligiuri said he was told the woman “posted nasty things about me online and was asking the [St. James] community to boycott Patio Pizza.”
A screenshot of the original post was reviewed by Business Insider, who reported the woman posted a photo of the flag and wrote she would no longer patronize Patio Pizza. Content promoting a community-wide boycott was not found.
Despite the post, Caligiuri said the next day his business was booming with supporters from the town and across Long Island.
“They supported our president. They support the flag that I had hanging in the back of my store,” he told Fox Business.
“It’s really wonderful. It’s really humbling,” he concluded.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--Florida flight attendant attacks cheating husband, smashes guitar

A Florida flight attendant soared with rage after walking in on her cheating husband .
Nicole Denison , 29 , @ @ @ @ @ while also striking a chord , smashing his acoustic guitar when she returned to their @ @ @ @ @ 11 p.m. to find him in the middle of a sexual encounter , Florida police @ @ @ @ @ husband in the face , causing a black eye ; scratched up his face and @ @ @ @ @ according to police records published by The Smoking Gun .
The flight attendant then allegedly @ @ @ @ @ “ destroying ” the instrument when she smashed it against a wall , knocking down @ @ @ @ @ gaping hole , ” according to the arrest affidavit .
Denison was arrested this Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ incident , and charged with domestic battery .
She works for Allegiant Air and has @ @ @ @ @ of nearly three years , a bartender and fitness instructor , according to The Smoking @ @

A Florida flight attendant soared with rage after walking in on her cheating husband.
Nicole Denison, 29, allegedly struck her unfaithful hubby while also striking a chord, smashing his acoustic guitar when she returned to their home last Wednesday night at 11 p.m. to find him in the middle of a sexual encounter, Florida police said.
Denison punched her husband in the face, causing a black eye; scratched up his face and bruised his right arm, according to police records published by The Smoking Gun.
The flight attendant then allegedly turned to his guitar, “destroying” the instrument when she smashed it against a wall, knocking down shelving and leaving a “gaping hole,” according to the arrest affidavit.
Denison was arrested this Wednesday, a week after the incident, and charged with domestic battery.
She works for Allegiant Air and has two children with her husband of nearly three years, a bartender and fitness instructor, according to The Smoking Gun.


newyorkpost--2020-07-30--California’s ‘woke’ revolution is driving out blacks and Hispanics

No state wears its multicultural veneer more ostentatiously than California .
The Golden State ’ s leaders believe that they lead a progressive paradise .
Others see California as deserving of nationhood ; it reflects , as a New York Times columnist put it , “ the shared values of our increasingly tolerant and pluralistic society.
” In response to the brutal killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced plans to defund the police — despite the city ’ s steep rise in homicides .
San Francisco Mayor London Breed wants to do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city .
The state has also become a sanctuary for illegal immigrants — complete with driver ’ s licenses for some 1 million and free health care .
Despite these progressive intentions , Hispanics and African Americans — 45 percent of the total population — fare worse in the state than almost anywhere nationwide .
Based on US Census Bureau cost-of-living estimates , 28 percent of California ’ s blacks live in poverty , compared with 22 percent nationally .
One-third of Latinos , the state ’ s largest ethnic group , live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationally .
Since 1990 , Los Angeles ’ s black share of the population has dropped in half .
Blacks constitute barely 5 percent of San Francisco ’ s population , down from 13 percent four decades ago .
A recent poll found that 58 percent of African Americans express interest in leaving the state ; 45 percent of Asians and Latinos are also considering moving out .
These residents may appreciate California ’ s celebration of diversity , but they find the state increasingly inhospitable to their needs and their families ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Population Reference Bureau predicted that California was creating a two-tier economy , with a more affluent white and Asian population and a largely poor Latino and African American class .
Rather than find ways to increase opportunity for blue-collar workers , the state imposed strict business regulations that drove an exodus of the industries — notably , manufacturing and middle-management service jobs — that historically provided gateways to the middle class for minorities .
Following Floyd ’ s death , even green groups like the Sierra Club issued bold anti-racist proclamations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to higher energy and housing costs , which hurt the aspirational poor .
Many businesses , including small firms , must convert from cheap natural gas to expensive , green-generated electricity , a policy adamantly opposed by the state ’ s African American , Latino and Asian Pacific chambers of commerce .
Meantime , California ’ s strict COVID-19 lockdown policies have imperiled small firms .
Many restaurants — roughly 60 percent are minority-owned — may never recover , notes the California Restaurant Association .
Likewise for many mom-and-pop stores .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the education system to help them advance .
But California now ranks 49th nationally in the performance of poor , largely minority , students .
San Francisco , the woke epicenter , has the worst scores for black students of any county statewide .
Yet educators often seem more interested in political indoctrination than in improving scholastic results .
Half of California high-school students can barely read , but the educational establishment has implemented ethnic-studies courses designed to promote a progressive , even anti-capitalist , and race-centered agenda .
Unless the education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American and Hispanic students face an uncertain future .
A woke consciousness or deeper ethnic identification won ’ t lead to successful careers .
One can ’ t operate a high-tech lathe , manage logistics or engineer space programs with ideology .
California ’ s failure to improve conditions for Latinos and blacks was evident even before the lockdowns and recent unrest .
What the state ’ s minorities need is not less policing , or systematic looting of upscale neighborhoods , or steps to reimpose affirmative action , or kneeling politicians — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all races to ascend into the middle class .
The state ’ s leaders should prioritize improving middle-class jobs and opportunities , replacing indoctrination with skills acquisition and encouraging local businesses .
Considering the nature of California politics , this can happen only if minority Californians demand something different .
That could happen if enough of these residents realize that the state ’ s ruling progressive class is interested in their votes — but apparently not in improving their lives .
Joel Kotkin is the presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Opportunity Urbanism .
Adapted from City Journal .

No state wears its multicultural veneer more ostentatiously than California. The Golden State’s leaders believe that they lead a progressive paradise. Others see California as deserving of nationhood; it reflects, as a New York Times columnist put it, “the shared values of our increasingly tolerant and pluralistic society.”
In response to the brutal killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced plans to defund the police — despite the city’s steep rise in homicides. San Francisco Mayor London Breed wants to do the same in her increasingly crime-ridden, disordered city. The state has also become a sanctuary for illegal immigrants — complete with driver’s licenses for some 1 million and free health care.
Despite these progressive intentions, Hispanics and African Americans — 45 percent of the total population — fare worse in the state than almost anywhere nationwide.
Based on US Census Bureau cost-of-living estimates, 28 percent of California’s blacks live in poverty, compared with 22 percent nationally. One-third of Latinos, the state’s largest ethnic group, live in poverty, compared with 21 percent nationally.
Since 1990, Los Angeles’s black share of the population has dropped in half. Blacks constitute barely 5 percent of San Francisco’s population, down from 13 percent four decades ago. A recent poll found that 58 percent of African Americans express interest in leaving the state; 45 percent of Asians and Latinos are also considering moving out.
These residents may appreciate California’s celebration of diversity, but they find the state increasingly inhospitable to their needs and their families’.
More than 30 years ago, the Population Reference Bureau predicted that California was creating a two-tier economy, with a more affluent white and Asian population and a largely poor Latino and African American class. Rather than find ways to increase opportunity for blue-collar workers, the state imposed strict business regulations that drove an exodus of the industries — notably, manufacturing and middle-management service jobs — that historically provided gateways to the middle class for minorities.
Following Floyd’s death, even green groups like the Sierra Club issued bold anti-racist proclamations. But they still push policies that only lead to higher energy and housing costs, which hurt the aspirational poor. Many businesses, including small firms, must convert from cheap natural gas to expensive, green-generated electricity, a policy adamantly opposed by the state’s African American, Latino and Asian Pacific chambers of commerce.
Meantime, California’s strict COVID-19 lockdown policies have imperiled small firms. Many restaurants — roughly 60 percent are minority-owned — may never recover, notes the California Restaurant Association. Likewise for many mom-and-pop stores.
In the past, poor Californians could look to the education system to help them advance. But California now ranks 49th nationally in the performance of poor, largely minority, students. San Francisco, the woke epicenter, has the worst scores for black students of any county statewide.
Yet educators often seem more interested in political indoctrination than in improving scholastic results. Half of California high-school students can barely read, but the educational establishment has implemented ethnic-studies courses designed to promote a progressive, even anti-capitalist, and race-centered agenda.
Unless the education system changes, California’s African American and Hispanic students face an uncertain future. A woke consciousness or deeper ethnic identification won’t lead to successful careers. One can’t operate a high-tech lathe, manage logistics or engineer space programs with ideology.
California’s failure to improve conditions for Latinos and blacks was evident even before the lockdowns and recent unrest. What the state’s minorities need is not less policing, or systematic looting of upscale neighborhoods, or steps to reimpose affirmative action, or kneeling politicians — they need policies that empower working-class citizens of all races to ascend into the middle class.
The state’s leaders should prioritize improving middle-class jobs and opportunities, replacing indoctrination with skills acquisition and encouraging local businesses. Considering the nature of California politics, this can happen only if minority Californians demand something different. That could happen if enough of these residents realize that the state’s ruling progressive class is interested in their votes — but apparently not in improving their lives.
Joel Kotkin is the presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University and executive director of the Center for Opportunity Urbanism. Adapted from City Journal.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--DOJ fighting order that protects journalists during Portland protests

`` After my discussions with VP Pence and others , the federal ...

The Department of Justice wants to lift a judge’s order that protects journalists during the chaotic Portland protests — calling it “an instrument of wrong” and claiming some are “masquerading” as scribes in order to commit illegal acts.
The temporary restraining order was issued last week and bars federal agents in the city from targeting the press, as well as allows journalists to remain in place when crowds are ordered to disperse, Politico reported.
But the Justice Department is fighting the order by Oregon federal court Judge Michael Simon, in filings Thursday.
“Individuals are abusing the TRO to masquerade as members of the press and evade lawful orders, or actively participating in protest activities and even illegal acts while holding themselves out to be members of the press under the protection of the TRO,” their lawyers wrote.
“Even individuals who are not expressly taking advantage of the TRO are often within crowds of protesters or between officers and active protesters making it incredibly difficult and dangerous to observe the restrictions while implementing crowd control measures.”
The Justice Department lawyers added, “Savvy protesters abuse the TRO to evade lawful orders, impede law enforcement, and perpetrate crimes. The TRO has become ‘an instrument of wrong,’ and must be dissolved,” DOJ attorneys argued.
The filing also includes declarations from seven senior officials and officers claiming protesters wearing “press” badges have assaulted officers, interfered with them, damaged the fence surrounding the federal Mark O. Hatfield courthouse, or tried to scale it, Politico said.
It also cited an online video allegedly showing a purported journalist at the protests saying they have “a bunch more press passes to give out to people.”
Matthew Borden, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union’s Oregon chapter, which is part of the case, said doling out fake press passes was “ill-advised and rare” but that it “is not probable cause for arrest or dispersal, or justification for brutally and deliberately attacking reporters.”
“The restraining order simply orders federal agents to abide by the law, which is to not arrest, threaten to arrest, or use physical force against journalist unless the government has probable cause to believe that such individual has committed a crime,” Borden told Politico in a statement. “If the government objects to the order, they’re making clear what is already known: the government has no intention of following the law.”
The filing comes on the heels of a deal brokered between Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and the Department of Homeland Security to withdraw federal agents from Portland in phases, with state law enforcement tasked with setting up and maintaining a perimeter around the courthouse.
A court hearing is scheduled in the case Friday morning.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--The 9 Best TV Shows Of July 2020

The 9 Best TV Shows Of July 2020

July — and I hope you ’ re sitting down for this — was pretty hot .
Like , scorching hot , at least where I live .
Which means in the absence of movie theaters being open , all I wanted to do was sit inside in the air conditioner and watch TV .
Oh , also there ’ s that whole coronavirus thing that makes me terrified to go outside , but whatever : AC !
Luckily , despite COVID-19 ’ s slowdown/shutdown of the entertainment industry , there were plenty of new shows , and episodes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include : a reboot of the classic Baby-Sitters Club that came out of nowhere and surprises everyone ; a true crime docuseries that redefined what said series can be ; and Amy Schumer ’ s return to television with one of the most unexpected turns you might have seen from the once buzzy comedian .
In order to determine the best of the best , the experts at Decider ( hey , that ’ s this website ! )
watched a ton of television , submitted their top five shows lists , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and ignored in favor of me putting “ Doom Patrol ” nine times .
Just kidding .
Anyway , you can check out the full list below .
And if you ’ re still getting caught up , be sure to check out our lists for the best of January , February , March , April , May , June , and the best of 2020 so far .

July — and I hope you’re sitting down for this — was pretty hot. Like, scorching hot, at least where I live. Which means in the absence of movie theaters being open, all I wanted to do was sit inside in the air conditioner and watch TV. Oh, also there’s that whole coronavirus thing that makes me terrified to go outside, but whatever: AC!
Luckily, despite COVID-19’s slowdown/shutdown of the entertainment industry, there were plenty of new shows, and episodes of continuing shows to buzz about. They include: a reboot of the classic Baby-Sitters Club that came out of nowhere and surprises everyone; a true crime docuseries that redefined what said series can be; and Amy Schumer’s return to television with one of the most unexpected turns you might have seen from the once buzzy comedian.
In order to determine the best of the best, the experts at Decider (hey, that’s this website!) watched a ton of television, submitted their top five shows lists, which were they weighted, combined, ranked, and ignored in favor of me putting “Doom Patrol” nine times. Just kidding.
Anyway, you can check out the full list below. And if you’re still getting caught up, be sure to check out our lists for the best of January, February, March, April, May, June, and the best of 2020 so far.
9 'The Umbrella Academy' Netflix Full disclosure, right up front: I did not love the first season of The Umbrella Academy. While the cast was uniformly great, and there were fun sequences throughout, it struggled to balance the family drama, superheroics, and inherent weirdness of Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s comics in a cohesive manner. Add in hour-plus running times, and the whole season suffered from your regular round of Netflix bloat. Not so with the just debuting Season 2, which finds the Hargreeves family stuck back in time in Dallas, Texas mere days before the Kennedy assassination… And another global apocalypse, seemingly caused by the family themselves. Everything about the transcendent second season is a delight, from the comfort of the actors in the roles, to the intense ties between the family — gone is the self-imposed rift they struggled with in the freshman season — to a willingness to *gasp* allow them to use their superpowers. Each member of the main cast has their own, excellent arc — stand-outs include Emmy Raver-Lampman, who gets sucked into the bubbling civil rights movement, and Ellen Page’s Vanya, who finds herself stuck on a farm and on a progressive journey of her own — but the true testament is how tightly plotted Season 2 is; and how much fun it is to watch, from the explosive opening minutes, to an ending that will make you beg for Season 3. And a nice bonus? Every episode is around 45 minutes long, meaning it’s a breezy, 10 episode binge. What are you waiting for, an invitation from Reginald Hargreeves? Go watch The Umbrella Academy Season 2, right now. — Alex Zalben Stream The Umbrella Academy on Netflix
8 'Yellowstone' Paramount Network The secret’s finally out, Yellowstone fans. This batch of July episodes finally revealed why Beth hates her older brother Jamie so much and, boy, are her reasons justified! Along with this revelation that rocks the Dutton family, the arrival of Market Equities CEO Willa Hayes (played by The Morning Show scene stealer Karen Pittman) further threatens their ranch. It’s a good thing that we have the Bunkhouse boys and girls (standouts Eden Brolin, Hassie Harrison, and Jennifer Landon) to bring a little levity (and midnight buffalo riding) to the proceedings. With only 4 episodes left, Season 3 of Taylor Sheridan’s saga of the modern West remains as compelling as ever. — Karen Kemmerle Where to watch Yellowstone
7 'Say I Do' Netflix It turns Netflix doesn’t need sweaty singles or elaborate social experiments to make a reality/romance show engaging. Enter: Say I Do, a far cary from the drama of Love Is Blind and the stupid mess of Too Hot to Handle. The couples in Say I Do are already together, already in love, and already committed to each other. The catch? They need a little bit of gay magic in order to turn their dream day into a full-blown fantasy. Because of the fabulous glow-ups pulled off, both inside and out, this show more than earned is Queer Eye for weddings. We’re getting all misty just thinking about it—especially Randy and Skyler’s episode! — Brett White Stream Say I Do on Netflix
6 'Down To Earth With Zac Efron' During a time when none of us are able to travel, Zac Efron has generously offered to take up the task. The result is his very chill travel show, Down to Earth with Zac Efron, in which the High School Musical actor shares his passion for exploring the environment. Efron and his travel buddy, wellness expert Darin Olien, journey across the globe, seeking out different sustainability techniques from Iceland to Puerto Rico. Efron can be a little too bro-ey sometimes, but it’s always a charming, informative ride, wherever he takes us. — Greta Bjornson Stream Down to Earth With Zac Efron on Netflix
5 'Below Deck Mediterranean' Bravo This season of Below Deck Med is like a fine wine that only gets better with age. June may have brought the departure of Lara and Pete’s persistent sexism, but this month’s batch of episodes ratcheted up the drama even more. Between Hannah’s overall DGAF attitude, Sandy’s micromanaging, Bugsy’s growing frustration with the interior staff, and Kiko’s all-out collapse in the galley, a five-alarm fire is brewing onboard the Wellington, and it’s only a matter of time before the season goes up in flames. — Claire Spellberg Where to watch Below Deck Mediterranean
4 'Expecting Amy' HBO Max Expecting Amy on HBO Max gave me the best cry I’ve had this month (and there have been a few!). It was one of the most honest and revealing and important docuseries I’ve ever seen and likely millions of men and women are currently thanking Amy Schumer for her service, for bravely showing what women go through, before, during, and after birth. This three-part series will open your eyes, fill you with love, and have you recommending it to everyone in your life. — Lea Palmieri Stream Expecting Amy on HBO Max
3 'Unsolved Mysteries' Netflix Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries puts a new spin on an old favorite. While the original series tackled multiple mysteries an episode, the new iteration focuses on just one, resulting in six enthralling cases that have deeply resonated with viewers. There’s no shortage of top-notch whodunnits available to stream, but Unsolved Mysteries remains the gold standard as the iconic franchise continues to produce extemporary true-crime television. If you devoured the first six episodes, you’ll be happy to know that six more will be premiering on Netflix later this year. — Josh Sorokach Stream Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix
2 'I'll Be Gone In The Dark' HBO The case of the East Area Rapist, also known as the Golden State Killer, is one that should be known to anyone with even a passing interest in true crime. But director Liz Garbus elevates this series of crimes into something more than shocking by focusing on the civilian who devoted her life to the EAR’s capture, Michelle McNamara. Throughout McNamara’s depressingly short career the author revolutionized the true crime genre, adding humanity and compassion for victims to a literary world often known for reveling in scandal. By focusing on this remarkable writer and investigator alongside the East Area Rapist’s reign of terror, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark transforms this somber story into an empowering narrative about the victims who survived this monster and the everyday heroes who never stopped trying to bring him to justice. — Kayla Cobb Stream I'll Be Gone In The Dark on HBO Max


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Man, 30, found dead after falling from Upper West Side fire escape

A 30-year-old man was found dead early Friday in back of an Upper West Side apartment building , and investigators @ @ @ @ @ doom from a fire escape , according to cops .
The victim , whose name @ @ @ @ @ family notification , was found unconscious and unresponsive at around 2:10 a.m. behind the building @ @ @ @ @ Amsterdam Avenue , police said .
He was pronounced dead on scene .
It wasn @ @ @ @ @ he fell from the escape on his own or someone pushed him , according to @ @ @ @ @ looking to speak with a person who was with him at the time .
The @ @ @ @ @ office will officially confirm his cause of death .

A 30-year-old movie lighting technitian fatally fell from his fifth floor fire escape early Friday — a gruesome predawn death captured on dimly-lit security footage.
The victim’s distraught girlfriend told The Post that he slipped and fell while smoking a cigarette; video of his last moment shows him plummeting through a driving rain and landing face down in a paved back courtyard.
But police are also interviewing a second man who was with the victim at the time, and who is shown on separate security footage leaving the building a minute after the fall.
“He was smoking a cigarette last night outside on his fire escape and he slipped,” a sobbing woman who identified herself as the victim’s girlfriend told reporters at the scene later Friday.
She declined to say more.
The victim, whose name is being withheld pending family notification, was found face down in a pool of blood at 2:10 a.m., on the courtyard pavement behind the building on West 81st Street near Amsterdam Avenue, police said.
A neighbor who asked not to be named said he learned of the tragedy when police — who’d been summoned by the victim’s friend — rang his bell.
“They said there is a body down there,” the neighbor said, speaking haltingly and with emotion.
“The witness called [and] said, ‘I just saw somebody slip off the fire escape.’ They [the eyewitness] saw him slip off.
“They [police] came and located the body. They called me to identify the body. I knew the guy, he had been living here 3-4 months,” he added.
“He was face down. His head was smashed into the ground, pool of blood.”
The eyewitness — the victim’s friend, who was there at the time — was described by cops as “very forthcoming,” and cops are leaning toward calling the death accidental, the neighbor said.
“At first they thought it was a suicide, then they thought it was suspicious,then they ruled out suspicious,” the neighbor said.
Still, the neighbor said, even an accidental death is “weird.”
The victim “was pretty heavy and strong,” he said.
“His mind wasn’t careless,” he said.
“He would have had to have stood on the edge of the fire escape to fall. With his weight he would torpedo. But he fell like this [flat],” the neighbor said, noting the surveillance video of the fall.
“It’s just weird.”
The victim worked in stage lighting for a movie company and was also involved in the Black Lives Matter protests, distributing food, hand sanitizer and masks to protesters, the neighbor said.
“It’s just weird,” he repeated. “He’s out in the protests, providing people with masks and hand sanitizer. He’s thinking about life. Why would he put his life at risk like this?”
The neighbor added, “I heard the cops saying meth. The guy who called it in was pretty forthcoming and he may have mentioned it.
“It’s hard to slip from up there,” he added, “unless he was doing something stupid like standing on the edge or under the influence.”
The NYPD and city Medical Examiner’s office are investigating.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Executives at Ellen DeGeneres’ show accused of sexual misconduct

Neil Breen 's revelations come amid WarnerMedia 's investigation into her talk ...

Dozens of former staffers on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” have alleged that top executives who work behind the scenes have engaged in sexual misconduct with lower-level employees — including one who asked for a hand job and oral sex, according to a new report.
BuzzFeed News reported Thursday that it spoke with 36 former employees of DeGeneres’ eponymous show, many of whom corroborated incidents of sexual misconduct, harassment and assault.
All of the former staffers, many of whom left the show voluntarily, declined to be identified amid fears of retribution, the news outlet reported.
One of them alleged that head writer and executive producer Kevin Leman requested a hand job and oral sex from him in a bathroom during a company party in 2013, BuzzFeed News reported.
Another ex-employee described seeing Leman grab the penis of a production assistant, according to the bombshell report.
And yet another person said she witnessed Leman grope a production assistant inside a vehicle and kiss his neck in May 2017, the outlet reported.
Multiple former employees — running the gamut from senior-level honchos to lowly production assistants — also alleged that Leman would make sexually explicit comments in the office, including pointing out male workers’ bulges in their crotches, or ask them questions such as, “Are you a top or a bottom?”
“It’s masked in sarcasm, but it’s not sarcasm,” an ex-staffer told BuzzFeed.
Another former employee said: “He’d probably do it in front of 10 people and they’d laugh because ‘it’s just Kevin being Kevin,’ but if you’re in a position of power at a company, you don’t just get to touch me like that.”
Leman responded to the shocking allegations by forcefully denying “any kind of sexual impropriety.”
“I started at the Ellen Show as a PA more than 17 years ago and have devoted my career to work my way to the position I now hold,” he told BuzzFeed in a statement.
“While my job as head writer is to come up with jokes — and, during that process, we can occasionally push the envelope — I’m horrified that some of my attempts at humor may have caused offense,” Leman continued.
“I have always aimed to treat everyone on the staff with kindness, inclusivity and respect. In my whole time on the show, to my knowledge, I’ve never had a single HR or inter-personal complaint made about me, and I am devastated beyond belief that this kind of malicious and misleading article could be published.”
Warner Bros. declined to respond to specific allegations, citing an ongoing internal probe that it launched after an earlier report by the outlet in which current and former staffers said they faced racism, fear and intimidation on the job.
But in a statement to BuzzFeed on Thursday, the studio said it “hoped to determine the validity and extent of publicly reported allegations and to understand the full breadth of the show’s day-to-day culture.”
Warner Bros. continued: “It was important to both Warner Bros. and Ellen that as many people as possible attached to the program could be heard.
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show is, and has always strived to be, a place that brings positivity to the world. And though not all of the allegations were corroborated, we are disappointed that the primary findings of the investigation indicated some deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management.
“We have identified several staffing changes, along with appropriate measures to address the issues that have been raised, and are taking the first steps to implement them.”
On Thursday, the beleaguered talk show host addressed allegations of a “toxic” workplace culture in a staff memo, saying she plans to “correct” issues raised about improper behind-the-scenes behavior.
“As we’ve grown exponentially, I’ve not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I’d want them done. Clearly some didn’t,” the 62-year-old wrote. “That will now change and I’m committed to ensuring this does not happen again.”
While she did not list specific actions that will be taken, according to the Hollywood Reporter, the show’s executive producer, Ed Glavin, will be let go.
The program had faced allegations of both racism and intimidation, and showrunners had said they were “truly heartbroken” to learn about the issues.
In DeGeneres’ staff message, she expressed “compassion” for the workers who opened up.
Among the raft of allegations made to BuzzFeed News, five former staffers also said executive producer Ed Glavin touched them in creepy ways by rubbing their shoulders and back, as well as placing his hand around their lower waist.
Dozens of former people told BuzzFeed that Glavin “had a reputation for being handsy with women,” especially in the control room.
“You could definitely see the creep factor and the creepy touching. That was out in the open for everybody to see,” said one former staffer, adding that Glavin regularly touched her in the show’s control room.
“Obviously, no one wants that and no one wants to be uncomfortably touched by someone … but you didn’t want to piss them off or you would be fired, so it was just that culture of fear,” the ex-employee told BuzzFeed.
Another erstwhile worker alleged that Glavin would summon producers and assistants to sit near him and touched them inappropriately when the show was filming segments they had worked on.
“Even though I was being abused [at work] constantly, Ed putting his arm around you in the control room was like the nicest experience you had all day, as messed up as that sounds,” she told the outlet.
“But you had been crying last night and now your segment is going well … and then you feel like you got credit for something from the executive producer directly. … That friendly banter accompanied by a friendly hand.”
In all, 47 former staffers also accused executive producer of leading with intimidation and fear.
Glavin did not immediately respond to a request for comment by BuzzFeed News.
Meanwhile, another ex-employee described how co-executive producer Jonathan Norman took him to concerts and other work-related events before trying to perform oral sex on him one night.
Three of the ex-staffers former colleagues corroborated that he told them about the incident at the time.
“We’re young people who were forming our careers and were unfortunately subjected to a toxic work environment as some of our first jobs out of college,” the former worker told BuzzFeed News. “And some of us were sexually harassed and that’s what was shaping our careers our first year out of school.”
Norman told the outlet Thursday night that he is “100% categorically denying these allegations.”
“I have never had a single complaint against me in my career. I have never ‘groomed’ anyone,” he said in a statement. “I have never done anything to harm another staff member. Ever. The person I believe you are referring to has ulterior motives for bringing down the show and has been acting with malice towards the show.”
Former staffers also alleged that senior-level producers pressured them not to go to human resources at the show’s parent company.
“There was no such thing as a confidential conversation,” a former employee told BuzzFeed. “There was no clear direction that if something happens to you, you go to this person, it will remain confidential, and you will not be retaliated against.”
A former Warner Brothers employee who worked on the show said the company “turns a blind eye” to the allegations because the series “is a cash cow.
“Warner Brothers has a responsibility not just to the people who work on The Ellen Show, but to its viewers and its shareholders to make sure people are protected on the job, and that they’re not harassed, and they’re not working in an environment that is toxic and unhealthy,” the person told BuzzFeed.


newyorkpost--2020-07-31--Facebook stock soars on resilient revenue growth amid coronavirus

Facebook ’ s stock price soared in premarket trading Friday as Wall Street cheered its resilient revenue growth despite the coronavirus pandemic and an advertising boycott .
Facebook shares had climbed about 6.6 percent to $ 250.09 by 7:15 a.m. after it reported more than $ 18.6 billion in second-quarter revenues Thursday , an 11 percent jump from the same period last year .
That marked the social-media giant ’ s weakest growth ever but nonetheless smashed analysts ’ expectations for a 3 percent rise .
Advertising revenues surged 10 percent year-over-year to $ 18.3 billion despite COVID-19 putting pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups pushing big companies to stop buying Facebook ads .
After being grilled by congressional lawmakers Wednesday , CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a forceful defense of Facebook ’ s role in the tech industry Thursday amid scrutiny of its size and dominance .
He particularly touted Facebook ads as a vital tool for small and medium-sized businesses , which the company said drove last quarter ’ s ad revenue growth .
“ Our advertising is one of the most effective tools that small businesses have to find customers , to grow their businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zuckerberg said on a call with analysts .
“ And that ’ s why I am often troubled by the calls to go after internet advertising , especially during a time of such economic turmoil like we face today with COVID.
” Facebook also reported a 12 percent rise in monthly active users to 2.7 billion , beating Wall Street ’ s expectations for 2.6 billion as people plugged into the social network during coronavirus lockdowns .
The company expects the number will stay flat or drop slightly in most regions during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Facebook ’ s US employees will be staying home for the foreseeable future as the virus continues to spread across the country , according to Zuckerberg , who said there ’ s “ no end in sight ” for when its staffers here will be able to return to their offices .
The company previously expected to reopen some offices this month , though Zuckerberg has announced plans to let some employees work remotely for good .
“ It is incredibly disappointing because it seems like the US could have avoided this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had handled this better , ” Zuckerberg said Thursday .

Facebook’s stock price soared in premarket trading Friday as Wall Street cheered its resilient revenue growth despite the coronavirus pandemic and an advertising boycott.
Facebook shares had climbed about 6.6 percent to $250.09 by 7:15 a.m. after it reported more than $18.6 billion in second-quarter revenues Thursday, an 11 percent jump from the same period last year.
That marked the social-media giant’s weakest growth ever but nonetheless smashed analysts’ expectations for a 3 percent rise.
Advertising revenues surged 10 percent year-over-year to $18.3 billion despite COVID-19 putting pressure on businesses around the world and civil-rights groups pushing big companies to stop buying Facebook ads.
After being grilled by congressional lawmakers Wednesday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a forceful defense of Facebook’s role in the tech industry Thursday amid scrutiny of its size and dominance. He particularly touted Facebook ads as a vital tool for small and medium-sized businesses, which the company said drove last quarter’s ad revenue growth.
“Our advertising is one of the most effective tools that small businesses have to find customers, to grow their businesses, and to create jobs,” Zuckerberg said on a call with analysts. “And that’s why I am often troubled by the calls to go after internet advertising, especially during a time of such economic turmoil like we face today with COVID.”
Facebook also reported a 12 percent rise in monthly active users to 2.7 billion, beating Wall Street’s expectations for 2.6 billion as people plugged into the social network during coronavirus lockdowns. The company expects the number will stay flat or drop slightly in most regions during the third quarter as shelter-in-place restrictions ease.
But Facebook’s US employees will be staying home for the foreseeable future as the virus continues to spread across the country, according to Zuckerberg, who said there’s “no end in sight” for when its staffers here will be able to return to their offices.
The company previously expected to reopen some offices this month, though Zuckerberg has announced plans to let some employees work remotely for good.
“It is incredibly disappointing because it seems like the US could have avoided this current surge in cases if our government had handled this better,” Zuckerberg said Thursday.
With Post wires