newyorkpost--2020-08-20--The fear behind city union’s strike threat

No other group has shown as much contempt for its ...

Polling this month showed that two-thirds of the nation’s teachers would prefer to stay out of the classroom this fall, and teachers unions across America are poised to keep schools from reopening. The unions say the safety of their members is their top concern, yet, truth is, their bottom lines are just as critical.
That’s because the pandemic represents their biggest financial threat since teachers won the right to stop paying them.
And that fact goes a long way toward understanding UFT boss Michael Mulgrew’s threat Wednesday of an illegal strike here in the city.
Public-employee unions in 22 states, including New York, California and Illinois, got a sudden introduction to the market economy when the Supreme Court ruled in 2018’s Janus v. AFSCME that unions couldn’t force nonmembers to pay them.
Millions of teachers and other government workers went from captive payers to customers.
Just two years later, one in 10 New York unionized state workers isn’t paying dues — a figure that inches up monthly as union members retire and new workers join at a considerably lower rate.
Membership is becoming even less common among certain groups — like New York’s state university professors. Among adjunct professors, one in three has stopped paying dues.
After growing every year since 2012, the New York State United Teachers, the statewide teachers union, chalked up two straight years with fewer people paying them, and last year it saw its dues revenues stumble 7 percent. Meanwhile, the unfunded liabilities that NYSUT accrued under its old business model have swollen to almost a half-billion dollars.
NYSUT promised to be “relentless” against any reopening plan to which members object, and Mulgrew, too, is now beating his chest — lest teachers wonder what their dues are buying them.
And for the UFT, the stakes are enormous.
After Mulgrew stopped short of threatening a strike last month, a renegade faction led a substantial street protest and called for “rolling sickouts.”
Teacher strikes, however, are illegal in the Empire State, and if UFT undertook one, the city would almost definitely be required to stop deducting its dues, leaving the UFT on its own to collect almost $1,400 a year from about 70,000 teachers.
When the UFT’s dues privileges were last suspended, in 1982, revenues fell about 30 percent — but 100 percent of teachers still had to pay when the suspension ended. After Janus, there’s no knowing how many teachers would keep paying, even after the city resumed deductions.
As one UFT dissident put it, “Mulgrew’s main worry is losing union dues [automatic dues checkoff] if we stage a job action.”
In threatening a strike, then, Mulgrew may be playing chicken with city school leaders: He needs to scare them out of reopening, because he fears his members will close schools on their own — and the city will then stop collecting UFT dues.
The UFT isn’t the only union caught between extreme factions and serious penalties.
In Rochester, one of New York’s largest school districts, a militant band in the teachers union threatened to strike last winter, even before the pandemic struck. It’s now demanding that schools remain closed until the surrounding county of 740,000 people stays COVID-free for 14 days.
Indeed, even before Janus, unions in New York and other states had a good indicator of where things might be headed: In the first full year after Michigan’s 2013 right-to-work law stopped unions from forcing teachers to pay, the Michigan Education Association president bragged that 99 percent of members had stuck with the union. But a year later, 5 percent had left.
Today, the MEA membership has shrunk 33 percent from 2012 levels, even as public-school employment has grown. And that was without a serious issue like COVID putting demands on union leaders.
Families across the country are appropriately concerned about having to shell out thousands of dollars for child care if schools don’t reopen; the teachers unions have framed their concerns around health and safety. In reality, both sides are carefully watching their bank accounts.
Tim Hoefer is president and CEO of the Empire Center for Public Policy.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--All eyes on the Bidens: Joe to deliver live speech at DNC, son Hunter to also speak

All eyes will be on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Thursday night as he delivers a live acceptance speech on the final night of the Democratic National Convention .
Biden will speak at a mostly empty venue in Wilmington , Del.
, after 10 p.m. , with a handful of well-spaced reporters expected in a bare-bones audience due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The former vice president would be the oldest-ever president — 78 years old if he takes office — and his speech offers an opportunity to dispel , or confirm , President Trump ’ s persistent taunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mental decline .
Biden is expected to capitalize on prior nights that featured a diverse set of supporters , including Republicans such as former Ohio Gov .
John Kasich and self-declared socialists such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
But the final night carries political risks beyond his own delivery .
The candidate ’ s son Hunter Biden also will speak at the mostly virtual convention finale .
Trump was impeached in December for asking Ukraine to look into a lucrative position Hunter Biden held on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while his father led the Obama administration ’ s Ukraine policy .
Trump often asks “ Where ’ s Biden ?
” and accuses him of other shady dealings linked to his father ’ s official position , including accepting investment from China after flying there aboard Air Force Two .
Prominent speakers ahead of the Bidens include former three-term New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg , who spent $ 188 million on his failed bid for the Democratic nomination .
Democrats grumble that Bloomberg hasn ’ t ponied up big bucks for Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stiffed his staff and reneged on a promise to pay them even if he lost .
Other speakers on the final night include Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms , “ Veep ” and “ Seinfeld ” star Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin .
Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Ind.
, and universal basic income proponent Andrew Yang — both of whom vied against Biden in the primaries — will endorse him .
“ I have gotten to know both Joe and Kamala on the trail over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know a person when the cameras are off , the crowds are gone , and it ’ s just you and them .
They understand the problems we face .
They are parents and patriots who want the best for our country , ” Yang will say , according to an excerpt .

All eyes will be on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Thursday night as he delivers a live acceptance speech on the final night of the Democratic National Convention.
Biden will speak at a mostly empty venue in Wilmington, Del., after 10 p.m., with a handful of well-spaced reporters expected in a bare-bones audience due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The former vice president would be the oldest-ever president — 78 years old if he takes office — and his speech offers an opportunity to dispel, or confirm, President Trump’s persistent taunt that Biden is “shot” and in mental decline.
Biden is expected to capitalize on prior nights that featured a diverse set of supporters, including Republicans such as former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and self-declared socialists such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
But the final night carries political risks beyond his own delivery.
The candidate’s son Hunter Biden also will speak at the mostly virtual convention finale.
Trump was impeached in December for asking Ukraine to look into a lucrative position Hunter Biden held on the board of a Ukrainian energy firm while his father led the Obama administration’s Ukraine policy.
Trump often asks “Where’s Biden?” and accuses him of other shady dealings linked to his father’s official position, including accepting investment from China after flying there aboard Air Force Two.
Prominent speakers ahead of the Bidens include former three-term New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who spent $188 million on his failed bid for the Democratic nomination. Democrats grumble that Bloomberg hasn’t ponied up big bucks for Biden, and many are enraged that he stiffed his staff and reneged on a promise to pay them even if he lost.
Other speakers on the final night include Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms, “Veep” and “Seinfeld” star Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and universal basic income proponent Andrew Yang — both of whom vied against Biden in the primaries — will endorse him.
“I have gotten to know both Joe and Kamala on the trail over the past year —the way you really get to know a person when the cameras are off, the crowds are gone, and it’s just you and them. They understand the problems we face. They are parents and patriots who want the best for our country,” Yang will say, according to an excerpt.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Joe Harris’ NBA bubble exit could be final blow for scrappy Nets

Though many Nets fans are loudly pining for the team ...

Might as well start the Nets’ coaching search.
Down 2-0 to the defending-champion Raptors, interim coach Jacque Vaughn announced Joe Harris will miss Games 3 and 4 of the first-round series due to a “personal matter.’’
His teammates later called it a family emergency. Harris’ mother had undergone cancer treatments earlier in the season. Sources did not rule out a return if the series is extended.
“We’re losing a guy who was putting in a lot of work and playing really well for us,’’ guard Tyler Johnson said, with Game 3 on tap Friday at 1:30 p.m. “It’s not just going to be me stepping up. It’s a lot of guys who have to step up to fill the void.’’
These bubble Nets plan to go down fighting. Their grit enabled them to take the Raptors to the final possession of Game 2, with Garrett Temple bobbling a handoff from Harris in the closing moments, down three. The turnover officially went to Harris, but it was Temple’s gaffe. The Nets committed 17 turnovers — five in the final period.
“A big loss for us,’’ Vaughn said of Harris’ departure. “But an opportunity for us to respond as a group and figure this puzzle out and have someone else step up. I look forward to see us stay competitive and put ourselves in position to win a game.”
The Harris-less Nets are simply overmatched. Normally this 7-vs.-2 series would have a momentum shift going back to Brooklyn. But it’s all Disney World all the time.
Harris, their top priority in free agency, has been a dagger scorer in Orlando, averaging 20 points on 62 percent shooting in the seeding games. Harris may have even played his final game for Brooklyn.
Temple said the key is “not rocket science,’’ that the club must play less carelessly, and reduce its unforced turnovers. The Raptors raced to a 33-point lead in the first half of Game 1 before the Nets responded in Game 2 by leading most of the way. They improved their transition defense and limited Fred VanVleet’s 3-pointers.
“They’re going to play us a little differently,’’ Temple said. “That’s one guy they couldn’t leave open. With their swarming defense, we’re going to have to find more outlets to open it up. We have to defend and rebound the ball because we’ll be even smaller.’’
Even Harris’ solid play couldn’t get the already decimated Nets over the hump. The 3-point sniper scored 14 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in Wednesday’s 104-99 loss.
The Nets again won’t have injured Jamal Crawford (hamstring), whose signing turned into a complete bust. In order to stay in the game, Caris LeVert and Johnson will need monster performances, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot has to take his surprising 3-point marksmanship to another level. And that probably won’t be enough.
“You can’t make certain mistakes against these guys,’’ Johnson said. “It’s not the lack of effort. It’s the details. A couple of times we were up 10, 5. The more experienced teams take the five-point lead and push it to eight and keep it there. We had some breakdowns. More than anything, it’s the details. This team has been playing hard.”
The Raptors may have just absorbed the Nets’ best punch in Game 2 when Brooklyn jumped to a 26-12 lead and still had the advantage in the fourth quarter.
“Sometimes we get so caught up in basketball and our job we forget there’s a lot more to us as people,’’ Johnson said. “For Joe, it’s a no-brainer. He has to take care of his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family right now. It’s bigger than basketball. We support his decision to leave.’’
If the Nets get swept, Vaughn’s chances of returning would seem slim.
Nets owner Joe Tsai wants a marquee coaching search that should include Tyronn Lue, Jason Kidd, Mark Jackson and maybe even Gregg Popovich.
The Nets were scrappy-solid in the bubble despite not having Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Spencer Dinwiddie, among others. On paper, the Nets should be Eastern Conference title threats next season and Tsai won’t balk at paying top dollar.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--‘Bring It On’ stars attempt to recreate scenes 20 years later

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 ) Twenty years ago , a @ @ @ @ @ Torrance Shipman was being a total cheer-tator .
In honor of the film ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Nicole Bilderback , who played mean girls Courtney and Whitney , sat down with Page @ @ @ @ @ iconic 2000 film .
Kramer , 45 , and Bilderback , 45 , also indulged @ @ @ @ @ .
Take a look as the onscreen duo ’ s attempt to recall their most @ @ @ @ @ ’ t without mishaps .
Maybe these two should have studied , because after all @ @ @ @ @ about cheating , it ’ s about winning !

Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
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Twenty years ago, a cheerocracy was born, and Torrance Shipman was being a total cheer-tator.
In honor of the film’s anniversary, Clare Kramer and Nicole Bilderback, who played mean girls Courtney and Whitney, sat down with Page Six to chat about the iconic 2000 film.
Kramer and Bilderback, both 45, also indulged us with a little trivia. Take a look at the onscreen duo’s attempt to recall their most famous lines — which wasn’t without mishaps.
Maybe these two should have studied, because after all, it’s not about cheating, it’s about winning!


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--‘Bring It On’ turns 20: Inside the cult cheer movie’s secrets and drama

Get your spirit fingers out , “ Bring It On ” is celebrating its 20th a-n-n-i-v-e-r-s-a-r-y .
Starring Kirsten Dunst , Gabrielle Union and Eliza Dushku , the cheerleading flick helped catapult the sport to a fever pitch when it hit the big screen at the start of the millennium ’ s teen movie craze on Aug. 25 , 2000 .
Now a cult classic , the summer blockbuster grossed $ 90 million worldwide and spawned five follow-up films , all of which went straight to video , and even a Broadway musical .
Following a champion team getting ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Torrance takes over the Toros squad as captain for her senior year — only to find out that all of their award-winning routines were stolen from an underdog inner-city squad , the Clovers , led by Isis ( Union ) .
But when it comes to the movie ’ s now-iconic cheer routines — often mimicked by high schools around the nation — some were actually originals .
One memorable one , in particular , was created by actress Nicole Bilderback , who played mean girl cheerleader Whitney .
“ I actually choreographed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the infamous “ That ’ s alright/ That ’ s OK/ You ’ re gon na pump our gas someday ” cheer .
“ I was being totally facetious , totally sarcastic and joking.
” “ We spent about four or five weeks in cheer camp before we even started filming , ” Clare Kramer , who played Whitney ’ s partner-in-crime Courtney , told the Post .
Watch the video above to find out more secrets from the movie , including the original title and ending , the brutal audition process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the film .

Get your spirit fingers out, “Bring It On” is celebrating its 20th a-n-n-i-v-e-r-s-a-r-y.
Starring Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union and Eliza Dushku, the cheerleading flick helped catapult the sport to a fever pitch when it hit the big screen at the start of the millennium’s teen movie craze on Aug. 25, 2000. Now a cult classic, the summer blockbuster grossed $90 million worldwide and spawned five follow-up films, all of which went straight to video, and even a Broadway musical.
Following a champion team getting ready for competition, Dunst’s character Torrance takes over the Toros squad as captain for her senior year — only to find out that all of their award-winning routines were stolen from an underdog inner-city squad, the Clovers, led by Isis (Union).
But when it comes to the movie’s now-iconic cheer routines — often mimicked by high schools around the nation — some were actually originals. One memorable one, in particular, was created by actress Nicole Bilderback, who played mean girl cheerleader Whitney.
“I actually choreographed that,” Bilderback told The Post of the infamous “That’s alright/ That’s OK/ You’re gonna pump our gas someday” cheer. “I was being totally facetious, totally sarcastic and joking.”
“We spent about four or five weeks in cheer camp before we even started filming,” Clare Kramer, who played Whitney’s partner-in-crime Courtney, told the Post.
Watch the video above to find out more secrets from the movie, including the original title and ending, the brutal audition process — and who made a secret cameo in the film.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--‘Chemical Hearts’ Star Austin Abrams On The Art of Leaving An Awkward Voicemail

“ Oh my god , I know you !
” Austin Abrams exclaimed about halfway through our phone interview when I confessed I am in fact the author behind the infamous 2018 article labeling him cougar bait .
It was inspired by his roles in shows such as The Americans and Smilf , after noticing that he had , more than once , played characters with the very specific trait of attracting older women .
I asked if he had noticed that about his characters before or if it was a new revelation for him and he replied , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think your article really brought that to light .
In terms of that , I ’ m not really sure .
I am thankful for that , that they can be more mature or intellectual .
It ’ s just pretty interesting to try and explore .
Maybe I ’ ve just been lucky in terms of being able to play those characters.
” He ’ s also lucky with his latest character , Henry , in the new teen drama film Chemical Hearts , now available to stream on Prime Video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and produced by Richard Tanne ( Southside With You ) and based off of Krystal Sutherland ’ s novel Our Chemical Hearts , Abrams plays a high school student and co-editor of the school newspaper along with a mysterious new student , Grace , played by Lili Reinhart .
It ’ s not so much a cougar bait role , but it is one that allows him to lean into his specialty , playing characters , even at the high school age , that seem to be mature beyond their years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sensitivity with which most young men in that age group are often not portrayed .
In the case of Henry specifically , he ’ s honest !
He ’ s a good listener !
He likes her for her !
These characters are likely not a stretch for Abrams who is just as skilled of an actor as his contemporaries such as Ansel Elgort or Timothee Chalament , but one who has stayed purely focused on working and choosing interesting projects , and completely resisting any involvement in the Hollywood scene , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ altogether .
Of initially reading the Chemical Hearts script , he said , “ I feel like there was a real story there .
People really dealing with some real issues .
Also , Rich , the director , was a big draw .
I watched his movie Southside with You and I thought he was really good .
And then Lili , of course .
She was a producer on it , she had a lot of passion about the project .
Also , they were both very collaborative people .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have people that have a strong idea and vision of what they want , but they ’ re also collaborative people .
That ’ s always huge.
” He also had nothing but compliments to pay his co-star and producer , saying of Reinhart , “ She did a really , really great job of being an actor as well as being a producer .
But at the same time , I forgot that she was a producer throughout the whole process of us actively working together .
Which is good , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re supposed to be actors in that moment , doing that job .
But she was very much a part of the whole movie .
A really intricate , huge piece of why it was even made .
She went to Rich and got him to be the director and writer .
The whole movie was made because of her.
” And much of what makes the movie work is their earnest scenes together , as the characters get to know each other and fall for each other .
“ Thankfully , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemistry that ’ s there , ” Abrams explained .
” A lot of times , honestly , you kind of have that or you don ’ t have it .
We worked together when we were 15 on this movie called Kings of Summer , so we ’ d known each other for a bit of time and that ’ s super helpful.
” It ’ s what helps sell moments such as when Henry leaves a nervous , bumbling voicemail for Grace , a scene that is quite frankly impressive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Do people — young people !
— leave voicemails anymore ?
“ I think what happens sometimes is you think they ’ re going to pick up , and then they don ’ t pick up , ” Abrams said .
“ You get the voicemail and it ’ s quick , and it ’ s like , ‘ Do I hang up ?
Bah — nope !
Fuck it , I ’ ll talk . '
” But to be fair , even the most thought-out written word can still be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can send a very bumbly text message too , you know ?
” he said with a laugh .
“ You can send a text message that you look at later and you ’ re like , ‘ Oh , god damn .
Why did I do that ? '
” OK , sure , we all relate .
But still , this is someone with no social media presence , so when his character does a bit of harmless “ research , ” shall we say , looking up his new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Abrams if despite not being on the platforms he had still stalked someone on the internet .
“ Look — all I ’ ll say is that I think everyone does , ” he admitted .
Abrams is known for roles in films such as Paper Towns and Brad ’ s Status and shows such as The Walking Dead , This Is Us , and Euphoria , and while his 24th birthday is on September 2nd , he ’ s spent much of his career portraying teenage characters , an age group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formative as it gets .
“ That ’ s such a pivotal , strange time , ” Abrams said .
“ Your mind is actively changing and so you ’ re really experiencing everything for the first time and in a totally different way .
You ’ re dealing with a totally different brain and a totally different way of thinking .
I feel like everything is a lot more primal , I suppose .
Because once you get older , you just get more familiar with yourself .
But when you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you ’ re a teenager , everything ’ s much rawer.
” Which brings us to HBO ’ s gritty teen drama Euphoria , where Abrams plays Ethan , yet another enlightened teen , but one we might not see return in Season 2 for quite some time .
I asked if there were any updates about when production might resume and he said , “ I know literally as much as you or anyone else .
I have absolutely no idea .
But I would love to know more !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a show as authentic and modern as Euphoria would dare to include the pandemic in its next installment .
While Abrams didn ’ t know , he did muse on it a bit , saying , “ I think it ’ s kind of hard , because the difficult thing is , it ’ s all changing literally every day .
So I don ’ t think we know what the future is going to look like to any degree .
Say you did write about it , and then the show comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost completely outdated , in a way .
If you do the show in the future where maybe things are back to normal — but maybe they aren ’ t back to normal in a couple years , as they were however many months ago .
I could imagine as a writer , that being a tricky thing to do .
That ’ s an interesting question that I ’ ve thought about myself.
” And like the rest of us , he ’ s thought about it when watching anything pre-March 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Boogie Nights last night , and I was like , ‘ You ’ re going into a store , man .
You ’ ve got ta put your mask on !
’ It ’ s strange , but also , it ’ s nice to be reminded .
Every time someone hugs , you ’ re a little like , ugh.
” So what has Abrams been doing for the past six months ?
“ I think I ’ ve been doing what literally everyone else probably has been doing , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , trying to make the most of this situation .
I think it ’ s a difficult time where I ’ ve noticed seeing myself or perhaps other friends , where a lot of times we ’ re judging ourselves a little bit harshly , in terms of , ‘ What am I doing with this time ?
Am I doing something productive ?
’ It ’ s important to remember that these are strange times that haven ’ t been dealt with for about 100 years .
So I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s important that people at least try to give themselves a little bit of a break .
In terms of like , there ’ s no rule book for what ’ s happening right now.
” So while most of us grasp at something to look forward to , Abrams has got another project that he filmed last year and will be streaming later this year .
“ I did this show Dash & Lily on Netflix that ’ s coming out at the end of the year .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoy and be able to feel good about .
It ’ s about two teens in New York exchanging a notebook back and forth of dares and getting to know each other .
New York ’ s kind of a character in and of itself in the story .
But I think it will be nice for people to be able to have a bit of a nostalgic moment.
” Abrams then spent the next few minutes genuinely inquiring about current life in New York : How was it ?
How are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go out and walk around ?
Are there restaurants open ?
It was the kind of conversation I ’ ve had numerous times with close friends and family members , but never really occurred in the dozens of interviews I ’ ve conducted in the last six months , yet felt comfortable and pleasant as the conversation steered toward looking on the bright side .
“ That ’ s another thing that ’ s nice about this .
I think the appreciation of life is a lot more heightened , ” Abrams said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside and walk around is a wonderful thing .
I appreciate it a little bit more now.
” He even recalled a time in the spring about a month or so after the initial lockdown in Los Angeles , where he said , “ I remember walking to a local park and looking around , and I couldn ’ t find one person that was on their phone .
I felt like I had traveled to 20 years past or something like that .
I can ’ t even remember a time where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was pretty incredible , just seeing everyone appreciate being outside .
It was really a special thing.
” I hung up smiling at what an enjoyable and charming conversation it had been .
And while the unassuming actor wasn ’ t even aware he was setting it , I realized , a decade his senior , that I too had taken the bait .

“Oh my god, I know you!” Austin Abrams exclaimed about halfway through our phone interview when I confessed I am in fact the author behind the infamous 2018 article labeling him cougar bait. It was inspired by his roles in shows such as The Americans and Smilf, after noticing that he had, more than once, played characters with the very specific trait of attracting older women. I asked if he had noticed that about his characters before or if it was a new revelation for him and he replied, “I think it was a revelation. I think your article really brought that to light. In terms of that, I’m not really sure. I am thankful for that, that they can be more mature or intellectual. It’s just pretty interesting to try and explore. Maybe I’ve just been lucky in terms of being able to play those characters.”
He’s also lucky with his latest character, Henry, in the new teen drama film Chemical Hearts, now available to stream on Prime Video. In the film written, directed, and produced by Richard Tanne (Southside With You) and based off of Krystal Sutherland’s novel Our Chemical Hearts, Abrams plays a high school student and co-editor of the school newspaper along with a mysterious new student, Grace, played by Lili Reinhart. It’s not so much a cougar bait role, but it is one that allows him to lean into his specialty, playing characters, even at the high school age, that seem to be mature beyond their years, wise, and in possession of a sensitivity with which most young men in that age group are often not portrayed. In the case of Henry specifically, he’s honest! He’s a good listener! He likes her for her! These characters are likely not a stretch for Abrams who is just as skilled of an actor as his contemporaries such as Ansel Elgort or Timothee Chalament, but one who has stayed purely focused on working and choosing interesting projects, and completely resisting any involvement in the Hollywood scene, even deciding to stay off of social media altogether.
Of initially reading the Chemical Hearts script, he said, “I feel like there was a real story there. People really dealing with some real issues. Also, Rich, the director, was a big draw. I watched his movie Southside with You and I thought he was really good. And then Lili, of course. She was a producer on it, she had a lot of passion about the project. Also, they were both very collaborative people. That’s always wonderful, when you have people that have a strong idea and vision of what they want, but they’re also collaborative people. That’s always huge.”
He also had nothing but compliments to pay his co-star and producer, saying of Reinhart, “She did a really, really great job of being an actor as well as being a producer. But at the same time, I forgot that she was a producer throughout the whole process of us actively working together. Which is good, because we’re working together and we’re supposed to be actors in that moment, doing that job. But she was very much a part of the whole movie. A really intricate, huge piece of why it was even made. She went to Rich and got him to be the director and writer. The whole movie was made because of her.”
And much of what makes the movie work is their earnest scenes together, as the characters get to know each other and fall for each other. “Thankfully, we kind of just have a natural chemistry that’s there,” Abrams explained. ”A lot of times, honestly, you kind of have that or you don’t have it. We worked together when we were 15 on this movie called Kings of Summer, so we’d known each other for a bit of time and that’s super helpful.”
It’s what helps sell moments such as when Henry leaves a nervous, bumbling voicemail for Grace, a scene that is quite frankly impressive to be included in a film in 2020. Do people — young people! — leave voicemails anymore? “I think what happens sometimes is you think they’re going to pick up, and then they don’t pick up,” Abrams said. “You get the voicemail and it’s quick, and it’s like, ‘Do I hang up? Bah — nope! Fuck it, I’ll talk.'” But to be fair, even the most thought-out written word can still be lame too, he reasoned. “You can send a very bumbly text message too, you know?” he said with a laugh. “You can send a text message that you look at later and you’re like, ‘Oh, god damn. Why did I do that?'” OK, sure, we all relate. But still, this is someone with no social media presence, so when his character does a bit of harmless “research,” shall we say, looking up his new school friend on social media, I asked Abrams if despite not being on the platforms he had still stalked someone on the internet. “Look — all I’ll say is that I think everyone does,” he admitted.
Abrams is known for roles in films such as Paper Towns and Brad’s Status and shows such as The Walking Dead, This Is Us, and Euphoria, and while his 24th birthday is on September 2nd, he’s spent much of his career portraying teenage characters, an age group Chemical Hearts understands is just about as formative as it gets. “That’s such a pivotal, strange time,” Abrams said. “Your mind is actively changing and so you’re really experiencing everything for the first time and in a totally different way. You’re dealing with a totally different brain and a totally different way of thinking. I feel like everything is a lot more primal, I suppose. Because once you get older, you just get more familiar with yourself. But when you’re that age, I feel like when you’re a teenager, everything’s much rawer.”
Which brings us to HBO’s gritty teen drama Euphoria, where Abrams plays Ethan, yet another enlightened teen, but one we might not see return in Season 2 for quite some time. I asked if there were any updates about when production might resume and he said, “I know literally as much as you or anyone else. I have absolutely no idea. But I would love to know more!” What I wanted to know is if a show as authentic and modern as Euphoria would dare to include the pandemic in its next installment. While Abrams didn’t know, he did muse on it a bit, saying, “I think it’s kind of hard, because the difficult thing is, it’s all changing literally every day. So I don’t think we know what the future is going to look like to any degree. Say you did write about it, and then the show comes out, and then it could be almost completely outdated, in a way. If you do the show in the future where maybe things are back to normal — but maybe they aren’t back to normal in a couple years, as they were however many months ago. I could imagine as a writer, that being a tricky thing to do. That’s an interesting question that I’ve thought about myself.” And like the rest of us, he’s thought about it when watching anything pre-March 2020. “I was literally watching parts of Boogie Nights last night, and I was like, ‘You’re going into a store, man. You’ve gotta put your mask on!’ It’s strange, but also, it’s nice to be reminded. Every time someone hugs, you’re a little like, ugh.”
So what has Abrams been doing for the past six months? “I think I’ve been doing what literally everyone else probably has been doing,” he sighed. “Which is like, trying to make the most of this situation. I think it’s a difficult time where I’ve noticed seeing myself or perhaps other friends, where a lot of times we’re judging ourselves a little bit harshly, in terms of, ‘What am I doing with this time? Am I doing something productive?’ It’s important to remember that these are strange times that haven’t been dealt with for about 100 years. So I don’t know. I feel like it’s important that people at least try to give themselves a little bit of a break. In terms of like, there’s no rule book for what’s happening right now.”
So while most of us grasp at something to look forward to, Abrams has got another project that he filmed last year and will be streaming later this year. “I did this show Dash & Lily on Netflix that’s coming out at the end of the year. It’s a nice show that I think people will enjoy and be able to feel good about. It’s about two teens in New York exchanging a notebook back and forth of dares and getting to know each other. New York’s kind of a character in and of itself in the story. But I think it will be nice for people to be able to have a bit of a nostalgic moment.”
Abrams then spent the next few minutes genuinely inquiring about current life in New York: How was it? How are you doing there? Are you able to go out and walk around? Are there restaurants open? It was the kind of conversation I’ve had numerous times with close friends and family members, but never really occurred in the dozens of interviews I’ve conducted in the last six months, yet felt comfortable and pleasant as the conversation steered toward looking on the bright side. “That’s another thing that’s nice about this. I think the appreciation of life is a lot more heightened,” Abrams said. “Just being able to be outside and walk around is a wonderful thing. I appreciate it a little bit more now.” He even recalled a time in the spring about a month or so after the initial lockdown in Los Angeles, where he said, “I remember walking to a local park and looking around, and I couldn’t find one person that was on their phone. I felt like I had traveled to 20 years past or something like that. I can’t even remember a time where I’ve seen something like that. It was pretty incredible, just seeing everyone appreciate being outside. It was really a special thing.”
I hung up smiling at what an enjoyable and charming conversation it had been. And while the unassuming actor wasn’t even aware he was setting it, I realized, a decade his senior, that I too had taken the bait.
Where to stream Chemical Hearts


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Watch BTS’ highly anticipated new single and video, ‘Dynamite’

K-pop superstars BTS have dropped their new single , “ Dynamite ” — the group ’ s first ever song to be release completely in English .
The song arrives just six months after the release of the group ’ s fourth studio album , “ Map of the Soul : 7 , ” which was released on February 21 .
According to the announcement , in the song “ BTS sings of joy and confidence , treasuring the little things in life that make life truly valuable and special .
The song aims to bring a new surge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global community in the midst of COVID-19.
” Creative contributors to “ Dynamite ” include David Stewart and Jessica Agombar , known for “ What A Man Got ta Do ” by the Jonas Brothers and “ I Love You ’ s ” by Hailee Steinfeld .
The TV performance premiere of “ Dynamite ” will take place at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards on August 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT .
The group ’ s fourth theatrical film , “ Break the Silence : The Movie , ” is scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 , with a rollout in an additional 40-plus regions Sept. 24 .
A list of which regions are expected to have “ Break the Silence ” on which date has gone up at www.btsincinemas.com , with the announcement inevitably cautioning that “ dates vary per territory and ( are ) subject to change based on the status of local cinema re-openings.
” The U.S. , Canada , Mexico , Brazil , India and over 40 countries in all are listed for the later release date on Sept. 24 .
The list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sept. 10 , is much longer — more than 70 in all — and includes Korea , the U.K. , Japan , Spain , Russia , Italy , France , Thailand and dozens more .

K-pop superstars BTS have dropped their new single, “Dynamite” — the group’s first ever song to be release completely in English.
The song arrives just six months after the release of the group’s fourth studio album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” which was released on February 21. According to the announcement, in the song “BTS sings of joy and confidence, treasuring the little things in life that make life truly valuable and special. The song aims to bring a new surge of much-needed ‘energy’ to reinvigorate the global community in the midst of COVID-19.”
Creative contributors to “Dynamite” include David Stewart and Jessica Agombar, known for “What A Man Gotta Do” by the Jonas Brothers and “I Love You’s” by Hailee Steinfeld.
The TV performance premiere of “Dynamite” will take place at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards on August 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
The group’s fourth theatrical film, “Break the Silence: The Movie,” is scheduled to hit more than 70 countries beginning Sept. 10, with a rollout in an additional 40-plus regions Sept. 24.
A list of which regions are expected to have “Break the Silence” on which date has gone up at www.btsincinemas.com, with the announcement inevitably cautioning that “dates vary per territory and (are) subject to change based on the status of local cinema re-openings.”
The U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, India and over 40 countries in all are listed for the later release date on Sept. 24. The list of territories getting the new film earlier, on Sept. 10, is much longer — more than 70 in all — and includes Korea, the U.K., Japan, Spain, Russia, Italy, France, Thailand and dozens more.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Gov. Cuomo admits he’s not sure he’d send his own kids back to school

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Gov .
Andrew Cuomo on Friday said he had his “ fingers crossed ” that Big Apple schools are ready to open safely — but admitted he is not sure he ’ d send his own kids to one in the city .
“ I would have a lot of questions , ” Cuomo admitted on the “ Today ” show when asked if he would send his children to New York City public schools amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you do it , let ’ s be honest .
We ’ ve seen schools open — we ’ ve seen colleges open — and get into trouble in one week .
So there ’ s a lot of questions to answer , ” he said .
Asked how confident he was that they were actually ready to reopen , he said , “ Fingers crossed on all of this.
” The governor stressed that schools would open only if parents and teachers were “ happy and confident ” to do so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school district by school district.
” “ We have 700 school districts and I ’ m sure we ’ re going to have 700 different answers in New York , ” he told the NBC breakfast show .
Cuomo continued to boast about taking the Empire State from “ the highest infection rate in the United States to the lowest.
” “ So you can handle this beast if you ’ re serious about it , ” he said .
“ If there ’ s any state that can reopen schools , it @ @ @ @ @

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday said he had his “fingers crossed” that Big Apple schools are ready to open safely — but admitted he is not sure he’d send his own kids to one in the city.
“I would have a lot of questions,” Cuomo admitted on the “Today” show when asked if he would send his children to New York City public schools amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“This is a risky proposition no matter how you do it, let’s be honest. We’ve seen schools open — we’ve seen colleges open — and get into trouble in one week. So there’s a lot of questions to answer,” he said.
Asked how confident he was that they were actually ready to reopen, he said, “Fingers crossed on all of this.”
The governor stressed that schools would open only if parents and teachers were “happy and confident” to do so, and that it would be decided “school district by school district.”
“We have 700 school districts and I’m sure we’re going to have 700 different answers in New York,” he told the NBC breakfast show.
Cuomo continued to boast about taking the Empire State from “the highest infection rate in the United States to the lowest.”
“So you can handle this beast if you’re serious about it,” he said. “If there’s any state that can reopen schools, it’s us.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Lori Loughlin, Mossimo Giannulli to be sentenced today in college scam

`` They involved both their daughters in the fraud , directing them ...

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Lori Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, are set to be sentenced Friday for their role in the widespread college admissions scandal, bringing their made-for-TV saga to a close.
The celebrity couple will appear via videoconference in Boston federal court, where US District Judge Nathaniel Gorton will decide whether to accept a plea deal the duo struck with prosecutors in May.
Loughlin, best known for her role as Aunt Becky on the sitcom “Full House,” and Giannulli, a fashion designer, copped to allegations they bribed their daughters’ way into the University of Southern California.
They admitted to paying $500,000 to scam mastermind William “Rick” Singer in order to get daughters Olivia Jade and Isabella Rose accepted into the school as crew recruits — even though neither girl was a rower.
Under their plea agreement, Loughlin, 55, would be sentenced to two months behind bars, while Giannulli, 56, would get five months.
She’s also agreed to pay a $150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service. Her husband would pay a $250,000 fine with 250 hours of community service.
Unlike most plea agreements — where the judge is free to decide on the sentence — the couple’s proposed prison terms are binding if the deal is accepted. If the judge doesn’t accept the terms, the whole deal would be void.
Loughlin was “feeling nervous” on Thursday, ahead of her sentencing, though also ready for the ordeal to end, a source told Us Weekly.
She and her hubby are “anxious” but “looking forward to closing this chapter of their lives,” the source said.
Neither Loughlin nor Giannulli have made any public statements since their arrests last year as part of “Operation Varsity Blues.”
Unlike other prominent parents charged in the scheme, they also did not submit letters expressing their regret or notes of support from family and friends to the court.
Fellow actress Felicity Huffman — who was sentenced to two weeks behind bars for paying $15,000 to rig her daughter’s entrance exam score — released a statement saying she felt “deep regret and shame” after she agreed to plead guilty, about a month after her arrest.
It took more than a year for Loughlin and Giannulli to agree to plead guilty — and their decision came after a judge rejected their attorneys’ bid to get the case tossed.
Their lawyers have repeatedly professed their clients’ innocence, saying the duo believed the money was a legitimate donation to Singer.
Giannulli’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m., while his wife is set to appear at 2:30 p.m.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--New Movies + Shows to Watch this Weekend: ‘Lucifer’ on Netflix + More

I know the weather is not the same for everyone reading this , but man , this week was refreshing as heck !
The break in temperatures just wants to make us run around outside and play with our friends .
And now that it ’ s the weekend , we finally get to do so .
But after those 10 minutes ( what , you seriously think you ’ ll exercise all weekend ?
Ha ! )
you ’ ll want to rest your loins and pop on a good movie or TV show to pass the time away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are a ton of new movies and shows to watch this weekend .
Whether you ’ re scrolling through Netflix , Hulu , Amazon Prime , HBO or all of the above , we believe that starting with the newest and hottest titles is the best way to go .
And if we ’ ve done our job right , these highlights will help you decide what to watch and where to stream it this weekend .
New Movies and Shows to Stream This Weekend : Lucifer Season 5 , Find Me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hearts There are a ton of new movies and shows to watch this weekend , but let ’ s start with some big-ticket items we too are excited to see .
On Netflix you can reacquaint yourself with the devil you know and love in Lucifer , Season 5 .
This season of the urban fantasy show is broken up into two parts , but this first half is sure to be chock-full of action and sinful fun .
Then over on Hulu you can check out the complete third season of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even find the romantic side of the pandemic through the new miniseries on Freeform , Love in the Time of Corona .
After a delay in release , Disney+ is finally putting out the hopeful flick The One and Only Ivan ; and , to top it all off , the romantic drama Chemical Hearts starring Lili Reinhart ( Riverdale ) is now available on Amazon Prime Video .
We could keep raving about the impressive titles new on streaming this weekend , but instead we will shut up and let you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve never been more excited to see the devil back in action .
The sinfully-good urban fantasy crime series Lucifer is back for its fifth season on Netflix .
While only the first half of the season was released today , we are confident this is going to be one hell of a storyline .
Watch as Lucifer ( Tom Ellis ) and Chloe ( Lauren German ) — possibly — succumb to their budding romance and , for the first time , meet the almighty God , played by none other than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows to watch this month on Netflix , Lucifer Season 5 will surely make you wish you could dance with the devil — if not only for a little while , at least !
New on Hulu August 21 : Find Me in Paris Season 3 New on Hulu this weekend is the complete third season of the teen dramedy , Find Me in Paris .
The series centers on Lena Grisky , a teenage girl studying ballet at the Paris Opera School in the 21st century .
On the outside , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but in reality she is a Russian Princess from the year 1905 who miraculously traveled through time to get to our present .
Catch up with Lena in Season 3 as she explores time travel , romance and self-discovery .
Stream Find Me in Paris Season 3 on Hulu Lili Reinhart stars in Chemical Hearts , the original film new on Amazon Prime this weekend .
Based on Krystal Sutherland ’ s novel “ Our Chemical Hearts , ” this romantic drama tells the story of Henry Page ( Austin Abrams ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopeless romantic who has never actually been in love .
But all of that changes when new girl Grace ( Reinhart , who is also a co-producer ) enters his class and is paired with him as co-editors-in-chief of the school newspaper .
Grace ’ s past and present are hardly picturesque , but despite having this heartbreaking and life-changing secret , Henry begins to fall in love with her — or at least the her he thinks she is .
Adolescence is not easy , and falling in love is not exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collide in Chemical Hearts .
Full List of New Movies and Shows on Streaming This Weekend The options above only scratch the surface , so you know that this weekend ’ s full lineup will have amazing options for what to watch this weekend !
For the full breakdown of the best movies and shows to stream now , or if you ’ re still undecided on what to stream this weekend , then check out the complete list below : Love in the Time of Corona : Series Premiere ( Freeform ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Only Ivan Beauty and the Beast Mars : One Day on the Red Planet Muppets Now – Episode 104 – “ Sleep Mode ” *Disney+ Original One Day At Disney – Episode 138 – “ Heather Bartleson : Holiday Services ” *Disney+ Original Weird But True – Episode 302 – “ National Parks ” *Disney+ Original No Quiero Ser Tu Hermano ( AKA I Don ’ t Want to Be Your Brother ) , 2020 ( HBO )

I know the weather is not the same for everyone reading this, but man, this week was refreshing as heck! The break in temperatures just wants to make us run around outside and play with our friends. And now that it’s the weekend, we finally get to do so. But after those 10 minutes (what, you seriously think you’ll exercise all weekend? Ha!) you’ll want to rest your loins and pop on a good movie or TV show to pass the time away. Bully for you because this weekend there are a ton of new movies and shows to watch this weekend. Whether you’re scrolling through Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO or all of the above, we believe that starting with the newest and hottest titles is the best way to go. And if we’ve done our job right, these highlights will help you decide what to watch and where to stream it this weekend.
New Movies and Shows to Stream This Weekend: Lucifer Season 5, Find Me in Paris Season 3, and Chemical Hearts
There are a ton of new movies and shows to watch this weekend, but let’s start with some big-ticket items we too are excited to see. On Netflix you can reacquaint yourself with the devil you know and love in Lucifer, Season 5. This season of the urban fantasy show is broken up into two parts, but this first half is sure to be chock-full of action and sinful fun. Then over on Hulu you can check out the complete third season of the teen dramedy Find Me in Paris, or even find the romantic side of the pandemic through the new miniseries on Freeform, Love in the Time of Corona. After a delay in release, Disney+ is finally putting out the hopeful flick The One and Only Ivan; and, to top it all off, the romantic drama Chemical Hearts starring Lili Reinhart (Riverdale) is now available on Amazon Prime Video. We could keep raving about the impressive titles new on streaming this weekend, but instead we will shut up and let you check them out below:
New on Netflix August 21: Lucifer Season 5
We’ve never been more excited to see the devil back in action. The sinfully-good urban fantasy crime series Lucifer is back for its fifth season on Netflix. While only the first half of the season was released today, we are confident this is going to be one hell of a storyline. Watch as Lucifer (Tom Ellis) and Chloe (Lauren German) — possibly — succumb to their budding romance and, for the first time, meet the almighty God, played by none other than Dennis Haysbert. One of the top shows to watch this month on Netflix, Lucifer Season 5 will surely make you wish you could dance with the devil — if not only for a little while, at least!
Stream Lucifer: Season 5 on Netflix
New on Hulu August 21: Find Me in Paris Season 3
New on Hulu this weekend is the complete third season of the teen dramedy, Find Me in Paris. The series centers on Lena Grisky, a teenage girl studying ballet at the Paris Opera School in the 21st century. On the outside, she may look like your average ballet student, but in reality she is a Russian Princess from the year 1905 who miraculously traveled through time to get to our present. Catch up with Lena in Season 3 as she explores time travel, romance and self-discovery.
Stream Find Me in Paris Season 3 on Hulu
New on Amazon Prime Video August 21: Chemical Hearts
Lili Reinhart stars in Chemical Hearts, the original film new on Amazon Prime this weekend. Based on Krystal Sutherland’s novel “Our Chemical Hearts,” this romantic drama tells the story of Henry Page (Austin Abrams), a high school senior and self-proclaimed hopeless romantic who has never actually been in love. But all of that changes when new girl Grace (Reinhart, who is also a co-producer) enters his class and is paired with him as co-editors-in-chief of the school newspaper. Grace’s past and present are hardly picturesque, but despite having this heartbreaking and life-changing secret, Henry begins to fall in love with her — or at least the her he thinks she is. Adolescence is not easy, and falling in love is not exactly a picnic either; watch it all collide in Chemical Hearts.
Stream Chemical Hearts on Amazon Prime Video
Full List of New Movies and Shows on Streaming This Weekend
The options above only scratch the surface, so you know that this weekend’s full lineup will have amazing options for what to watch this weekend! For the full breakdown of the best movies and shows to stream now, or if you’re still undecided on what to stream this weekend, then check out the complete list below:
New on Netflix- Full List
Released Friday, August 21
Alien TV *NETFLIX FAMILY
Fuego negro *NETFLIX FILM
Hoops *NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Lucifer: Season 5 *NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Rust Valley Restorers: Season 3 *NETFLIX ORIGINAL
The Sleepover *NETFLIX FILM
Released Sunday, August 23
1BR
Septembers of Shiraz
New on Hulu- Full List
Released Friday, August 21
Find Me In Paris: Complete Season 3 (Hulu Original)
Released Saturday, August 22
Love in the Time of Corona: Series Premiere (Freeform)
Released Sunday, August 23
Blindspot: Complete Season 5 (NBC)
New on Amazon Prime- Full List
Released Friday, August 21
Chemical Hearts (2020) – Amazon Original Movie
Clifford – Amazon Original Series: Season 2B
Released Saturday, August 22
The Legion (2020)
Released Sunday, August 23
Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020)
New on Disney+ – Full List
Released Friday, August 21
Back to the Titanic
The One and Only Ivan
Beauty and the Beast
Mars: One Day on the Red Planet
Muppets Now – Episode 104 – “Sleep Mode” *Disney+ Original
One Day At Disney – Episode 138 – “Heather Bartleson: Holiday Services” *Disney+ Original
Weird But True – Episode 302 – “National Parks” *Disney+ Original
New on HBO- Full List
Released Friday, August 21
No Quiero Ser Tu Hermano (AKA I Don’t Want to Be Your Brother), 2020 (HBO)
Released Saturday, August 22
Queen & Slim, 2019 (HBO)
Released Sunday, August 23
Mia’s Magic Playground
New on Showtime- Full List
Released Friday, August 21
Dark Blue
Released Saturday, August 22
Run This Town (Premiere)
New on BritBox- Full List
Released Friday, August 21
Murder, Mystery and My Family: Season 3 | BritBox Exclusive, North American Premiere I 10 X 60


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Swedish disease expert under fire for email revealing herd immunity rationale

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Sweden ’ s top infectious disease expert appeared to deliberately chase herd immunity from coronavirus — saying the death risk to the elderly could be “ worth it , ” according to newly released emails .
Anders Tegnell — Sweden ’ s equivalent to Dr. Anthony Fauci — was already under fire for seemingly disastrous responses to the contagion that eschewed almost any lockdowns .
Now emails obtained by Swedish journalists under freedom of information laws have further fanned the flames — seemingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought a faster spread to get herd immunity despite knowing the risks , according to The Guardian .
“ One point would be to keep schools open to reach herd immunity faster , ” he wrote during one March brainstorming exchange with his Finnish counterpart , Mika Salminen , days after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic .
He was warned that “ the children are still going to spread the infection to other age groups ” and that closing schools could reduce the spread to vulnerable age groups by at least 10 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent might be worth it ?
” he replied , according to the reports .
The released emails sparked outrage in the Scandinavian country , Yahoo !
News noted — with other reports also suggesting he had deleted hundreds of emails that were being sought .
Despite the emails , Tegnell insists that chasing herd immunity was not the real reason for keeping schools open .
“ My comment was on a possible effect , not on an expected one , that was part of the assessment of the appropriateness of the measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the journalist who obtained the emails .
“ Keeping schools open to gain immunity was therefore never relevant .
”

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Sweden’s top infectious disease expert appeared to deliberately chase herd immunity from coronavirus — saying the death risk to the elderly could be “worth it,” according to newly released emails.
Anders Tegnell — Sweden’s equivalent to Dr. Anthony Fauci — was already under fire for seemingly disastrous responses to the contagion that eschewed almost any lockdowns.
Now emails obtained by Swedish journalists under freedom of information laws have further fanned the flames — seemingly contradicting his earlier denials that he deliberately sought a faster spread to get herd immunity despite knowing the risks, according to the Guardian.
“One point would be to keep schools open to reach herd immunity faster,” he wrote during one March brainstorming exchange with his Finnish counterpart, Mika Salminen, days after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic.
He was warned that “the children are still going to spread the infection to other age groups” and that closing schools could reduce the spread to vulnerable age groups by at least 10 percent, the Guardian said.
“Ten percent might be worth it?” he replied, according to the reports.
The released emails sparked outrage in the Scandinavian country, Yahoo! News noted — with other reports also suggesting he had deleted hundreds of emails that were being sought.
Despite the emails, Tegnell insists that chasing herd immunity was not the real reason for keeping schools open.
“My comment was on a possible effect, not on an expected one, that was part of the assessment of the appropriateness of the measure,” he told Emanuel Karlsten, the journalist who obtained the emails. “Keeping schools open to gain immunity was therefore never relevant.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Twin mom has baby seeing double

Twin mom has baby seeing double

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Which one’s Mommy? A twin stumped her baby in Palm Bay, Florida, when she cozied up on the floor next to her identical twin sister. See how the tot reacts seeing her mother and aunt side by side.
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newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Yankees must persevere before they get another shot at Rays

The 2020 Yankees ’ defining moment might not be the coronavirus , if they continue to be diligent and fortunate .
It might be issues and opponents they know all too well , ones that haunt them during even non-pandemic times .
It sure feels like it ’ s happening right now — no matter that they don ’ t know when or whom they ’ ll play next .
The Tampa Bay Rays , low-budget miracle workers , completed their hostile takeover of the American League East on Thursday with a 10-5 smoking of the Yankees at the Stadium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 17-9 , leaping a half-game over the Yankees ( 16-9 ) to remove the defending division champs from the top perch for the first time this season .
Fitting of this “ Next Man Up ” pinstriped era — MAD Magazine in its prime probably would have called it “ Next Scan Up ” — the Yankees didn ’ t merely suffer a brutal loss and call it a day .
There were casualties .
After placing vital reliever Zack Britton ( strained left hamstring ) on the injured list well before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely valuable players depart early due to injury concerns , first Gleyber Torres with tightness in his left hamstring and then , even more daunting , starting pitcher James Paxton with left elbow/forearm discomfort .
“ Adversity ’ s coming our way , whether we like it or not , ” Aaron Boone said .
“ That ’ s part of this game .
That ’ s part of being a major league athlete and player , and I don ’ t care how great of a season we have — and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopefully finish with a championship .
“ But adversity , we know , is inevitable .
It ’ s going to come in different ways , unexpected ways , and certainly in 2020 it ’ s been a lot of unexpected ways .
I do feel like we ’ re uniquely equipped to handle it and deal with it , and that ’ ll be the expectation as we grind through a tough spell here with some injuries and a tough series.
” Fittingly for 2020 , right after he finished his Zoom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yankees ’ next game , scheduled for Friday night against the Mets at Citi Field , had been postponed due to a pair of positive COVID-19 cases on the Mets .
It wouldn ’ t surprise at all to see the entire weekend wiped out , due to the proper caution Major League Baseball has exhibited whenever a team receives this bad news .
The Yankees ’ bad news for the moment is more of the standard baseball variety : They now own a 1-6 record against the Rays this season , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offseason renovation of their training and strength/conditioning programs , headlined by the hiring of Eric Cressey to oversee these departments , so far has gone about as well as Anthony Scaramucci ’ s time in the White House .
The Yankees began this series with Aaron Judge , DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton already out of commission and their vaunted depth is getting a serious test with mixed results : an F against the Rays and an A against everyone else .
“ It ’ s crazy it ’ s happening again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know what ?
We ’ re going to fight through it.
” Voit clubbed his fourth homer in four days and added a pair of singles ; the Yankees ’ offense hasn ’ t slowed down due to him nor his fellow arbitrage All-Star Gio Urshela , who doubled and ripped a go-ahead , two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning ; that 4-3 edge didn ’ t hold up for as long as three outs .
With Paxton done after five innings , Boone turned first to Adam Ottavino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luis Avilan , who teamed to permit a game-changing five runs , leaving their teammates in an 8-4 hole .
This Yankees ’ lineup , having endured this Yankees week , wasn ’ t going to climb out of that hole .
The inevitable adversity has arrived .
Can the Yankees shake off this beatdown and keep pace with the mighty Rays until they meet again at the end of this month ?
Can they ever stop getting guys injured ?
Thanks to the era ’ s greater problem , they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whenever they start playing again , though , how they respond to these multiple punches in the mouth will define them .

The 2020 Yankees’ defining moment might not be the coronavirus, if they continue to be diligent and fortunate.
It might be issues and opponents they know all too well, ones that haunt them during even non-pandemic times.
It sure feels like it’s happening right now — no matter that they don’t know when or whom they’ll play next.
The Tampa Bay Rays, low-budget miracle workers, completed their hostile takeover of the American League East on Thursday with a 10-5 smoking of the Yankees at the Stadium, capping a three-game sweep and, at 17-9, leaping a half-game over the Yankees (16-9) to remove the defending division champs from the top perch for the first time this season.
Fitting of this “Next Man Up” pinstriped era — MAD Magazine in its prime probably would have called it “Next Scan Up” — the Yankees didn’t merely suffer a brutal loss and call it a day. There were casualties. After placing vital reliever Zack Britton (strained left hamstring) on the injured list well before first pitch, they saw two more extremely valuable players depart early due to injury concerns, first Gleyber Torres with tightness in his left hamstring and then, even more daunting, starting pitcher James Paxton with left elbow/forearm discomfort.
“Adversity’s coming our way, whether we like it or not,” Aaron Boone said. “That’s part of this game. That’s part of being a major league athlete and player, and I don’t care how great of a season we have — and we expect to have a great season and hopefully finish with a championship.
“But adversity, we know, is inevitable. It’s going to come in different ways, unexpected ways, and certainly in 2020 it’s been a lot of unexpected ways. I do feel like we’re uniquely equipped to handle it and deal with it, and that’ll be the expectation as we grind through a tough spell here with some injuries and a tough series.”
Fittingly for 2020, right after he finished his Zoom news conference, Boone learned that the Yankees’ next game, scheduled for Friday night against the Mets at Citi Field, had been postponed due to a pair of positive COVID-19 cases on the Mets. It wouldn’t surprise at all to see the entire weekend wiped out, due to the proper caution Major League Baseball has exhibited whenever a team receives this bad news.
The Yankees’ bad news for the moment is more of the standard baseball variety: They now own a 1-6 record against the Rays this season, with three more head-to-heads to go. Their offseason renovation of their training and strength/conditioning programs, headlined by the hiring of Eric Cressey to oversee these departments, so far has gone about as well as Anthony Scaramucci’s time in the White House. The Yankees began this series with Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton already out of commission and their vaunted depth is getting a serious test with mixed results: an F against the Rays and an A against everyone else.
“It’s crazy it’s happening again,” Luke Voit said. “But you know what? We’re going to fight through it.”
Voit clubbed his fourth homer in four days and added a pair of singles; the Yankees’ offense hasn’t slowed down due to him nor his fellow arbitrage All-Star Gio Urshela, who doubled and ripped a go-ahead, two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning; that 4-3 edge didn’t hold up for as long as three outs. With Paxton done after five innings, Boone turned first to Adam Ottavino and then, questionably, to southpaw Luis Avilan, who teamed to permit a game-changing five runs, leaving their teammates in an 8-4 hole. This Yankees’ lineup, having endured this Yankees week, wasn’t going to climb out of that hole.
The inevitable adversity has arrived. Can the Yankees shake off this beatdown and keep pace with the mighty Rays until they meet again at the end of this month? Can they ever stop getting guys injured?
Thanks to the era’s greater problem, they’ll get at least one day to rest. Whenever they start playing again, though, how they respond to these multiple punches in the mouth will define them.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Mets coronavirus fallout: Seven pressing questions

The Mets received an unexpected momentum breaker Thursday in the ...

The Mets became Major League Baseball’s latest coronavirus casualty on Thursday, when one player and one staff member tested positive for the disease, immediately resulting in the postponement of Thursday’s series finale against the Marlins in Miami as well as Friday night’s Subway Series opener against the Yankees at Citi Field. While many questions remain unanswered at this early stage, here’s what we know:
Q: Let’s start with the superficial stuff. What is the likelihood that any of this weekend’s scheduled Subway Series will be played?
A: Quite low. When only one member of the Reds tested positive on Aug. 13, Cincinnati wound up not playing for the next four days, as Major League Baseball wanted to avoid the sort of outbreaks that occurred with the Cardinals and Marlins. Four days of not playing would take the Mets through Sunday.
Q: What would the Yankees do during this time?
A: Probably hold a workout or two at Yankee Stadium. They were planning to take Friday off after getting swept by the Rays.
Q: All right, now for the more serious matters. How does this work with the Mets to avoid a spread of the virus?
A: The Mets announced Thursday that the team would fly home with the proper safety precautions, except the two positively diagnosed members as well “as those traced to be within close contact” of those two members, information obtained from contact tracing.
Q: What is “close contact”?
A: As per the Center for Disease Control guidelines, which MLB is using, “close contact” means living in the same household as someone, being within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes or longer, or being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (like being coughed on). It does not include brief interactions like walking past someone. So as long as the Mets weren’t being stupid, very few people should have been left behind.
Q: Were the Mets being stupid?
A: An industry source told The Post’s Mike Puma that the Mets didn’t break any of the sport’s protocols.
Q: What will the next few days be like?
A: The Mets said they will test their entire traveling party, and you can expect that to happen for a few days. Word tends to get out each morning about the results from the previous days. So we should know before lunchtime every day whether the Mets have good news or bad news to share.
Q: Will we find out the identities of the two positive cases?
A: It’ll be up to the individuals, let’s hope. We haven’t yet learned the one Red whose case shut them down for four days.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--23-year-old man fatally shot in Downtown Brooklyn

A 23-year-old man was shot dead in Brooklyn Thursday night , police said .
The victim was found with bullet @ @ @ @ @ shoulder on Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn just after 10 p.m. , @ @ @ @ @ the man to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital , but he could not be saved , @ @ @ @ @ were made as of early Friday and police didn ’ t immediately provide any suspect @ @

A 23-year-old man was shot dead in Brooklyn Thursday night, police said.
The victim was found with bullet wounds to his head and shoulder on Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn just after 10 p.m., cops said.
EMS took the man to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, but he could not be saved, authorities said.
No arrests were made as of early Friday and police didn’t immediately provide any suspect descriptions.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Bless Austin transforming hard Jets lesson is potential turning point

Jets safety Marcus Maye looks an awful lot like his ...

Jets coach Adam Gase was talking about cornerback Bless Austin’s rookie season last year and said, “He didn’t even know what he didn’t know.”
But Austin learned one lesson the hard way at the end of the year.
Austin became a starter midway though last season. In their Week 16 matchup with the Steelers, the Jets had a 10-3 lead and Pittsburgh had the ball on the Jets’ 29-yard line with 9 seconds left in the first half. Austin got beat for a touchdown by Diontae Johnson.
The game was tied, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was livid, and Austin did not play another snap that day or in the season finale the following week.
Austin said Thursday it was a learning moment for him.
“It happened because it was situational football and just not understanding the game,” Austin said. “It was the last play of the half. They only had one more play. Just understanding that, they have to take a shot to the end zone. Me having a lack of awareness in that situation is what got me yanked out of that game, which should have happened. When you’re out there and you’re unaware of the situation in the football game, you place your team in a bad situation to come out victorious. That’s what happened. I learned a lesson from it, and it’s time to move on.”
Austin is back for his second season with a renewed focus. He said he spent the offseason studying situational football, writing down plays and schemes in notebooks as he studied film. Austin hopes to point to that moment against the Steelers as the turning point in his career.
“No doubt about it, I think that needed to happen very early on in my career,” Austin said. “It was definitely a pivotal moment. I just learned the severity of not paying attention to detail. When you’re a young guy, you kind of get away with not paying attention to detail. You just want to go through the motions. That was a situation right there where I learned the severity of the consequences you pay for not honing in and paying attention to detail.”
Austin has a good shot to be a starting cornerback this season. He showed a lot of ability in the second half of last season after recovering from a knee injury he suffered in college.
Gase said Austin impressed him last season and he looks more prepared this year.
“Confidence, like real confidence,” Gase said of what Austin displayed last year. “If something bad happens, he moves on to the next play. To me, it’s the hardest thing to learn as a young corner is you’re going to get beat, and it’s about how you bounce back and what you do the next play. I do think his knowledge of the playbook is getting better day-to-day.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Adam Pelech doing all the little things for Islanders

The Islanders are making a habit of bouncing back from ...

Taking a two-goal lead in the second period was instrumental for the Islanders’ momentum in their series-clinching win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday, but it wouldn’t have been possible without defenseman Adam Pelech.
It could be debated that much of the Islanders’ success in general this postseason wouldn’t be possible without Pelech, whom the team missed dearly while he was out for a majority of the regular season with an Achilles injury. Since returning to the lineup, Pelech has quietly contributed in making the Islanders a more complete team.
That continued in Thursday night’s 4-0 win at Scotiabank Arena, in which Pelech jump-started the play that resulted in Anthony Beauvillier’s second goal of the night when he pinned Capitals star Evgeny Kuznetsov along the boards. With Kuznetsov out of the play, Josh Bailey was able to scoop up the puck on the rush and feed it to Beauvillier for the score.
“It was coming back into the D-zone, he got to the puck first,” Pelech said of his play on Kuznetsov. “He turned up the wall and I just took the body on him. It’s great to have that support as a defenseman if you can get a leg on someone in the corner and someone comes and grabs the puck, we’re out of the zone.
“[Bailey] made an outstanding play there and Beau driving to the net and the goal was huge.”
Pelech has only registered two assists since arriving in the Toronto bubble, but it’s in the grittier stats that the 26-year-old has thrived.
Leading all skaters with 22:59 of ice time, Pelech finished plus-two with four blocked shots and a team-high six hits.
“I think we did a great job as a team,” Pelech said. “It takes everyone, it takes the forwards, it takes the defensemen and great goaltending to limit a team like that’s offense. I think we showed a ton of commitment.”
Barry Trotz said he found out Cal Clutterbuck wasn’t available Thursday morning after the fourth-line winger skated.
Clutterbuck took a low hit from Capitals defenseman Radko Gudas along the boards late in the second period of the Isles’ Game 4 loss Tuesday and was a game-time decision heading into Thursday night.
“Cal did skate and then after the skate he said, ‘For me to play the game that I need to play, I think I’m not quite there,’ ” Trotz said. “We had a plan going into it just in case.”
With Clutterbuck unavailable, Trotz inserted Michael Dal Colle and Ross Johnston on the third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the middle. That bumped Leo Komarov down to fulfil Clutterbuck’s spot on the fourth line with Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas. Derick Brassard was a healthy scratch.
Trotz had deployed the same lineup for five straight games.
“Derick has played pretty well, I just felt it was going to be a different style of game and we wanted to put a little more weight and grind in our game,” Trotz said.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Fly repeatedly lands on Michael Bloomberg’s face during DNC speech

Twitter was abuzz Thursday night after an insect twice landed on Michael Bloomberg ’ s face during his speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention .
The flying bug , presumably a fly , first came to rest above the billionaire ’ s right eye before briefly stopping above his upper lip as the former Big Apple mayor ripped President Trump ’ s business acumen .
Some Twitter users considered the unexpected bug landing the highlight of the night .
“ The fly on Bloomberg ’ s face stole the show tonight , ” wrote one user .
Another said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s face has been the most interesting part so far !
” A third person , apparently unmoved by either 2020 presidential candidate , declared , “ I would vote for the fly on Mike Bloomberg ’ s face.
” Despite the bug , Bloomberg continued his speech unimpeded .
The businessman took Trump to the mat on his own history as a property developer and accused him of running America into the ground .
“ Trump said we should vote for him because he ’ s a great businessman .
Really ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , always leaving behind customers and contractors who were cheated and swindled and stopped doing business with him , ” Bloomberg said .
“ Well , this time all of us are paying the price , and we can ’ t let him get away with it again , ” he continued , speaking from Colorado .
The media mogul , 78 , had a brief run for president this year , but dropped out of the race after several weak performances in the Democratic debates .

Twitter was abuzz Thursday night after an insect twice landed on Michael Bloomberg’s face during his speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
The flying bug, presumably a fly, first came to rest above the billionaire’s right eye before briefly stopping above his upper lip as the former Big Apple mayor ripped President Trump’s business acumen.
Some Twitter users considered the unexpected bug landing the highlight of the night.
“The fly on Bloomberg’s face stole the show tonight,” wrote one user.
Another said: “The fly on Bloomberg’s face has been the most interesting part so far!”
A third person, apparently unmoved by either 2020 presidential candidate, declared, “I would vote for the fly on Mike Bloomberg’s face.”
Despite the bug, Bloomberg continued his speech unimpeded.
The businessman took Trump to the mat on his own history as a property developer and accused him of running America into the ground.
“Trump said we should vote for him because he’s a great businessman. Really? He drove his companies into bankruptcy six times, always leaving behind customers and contractors who were cheated and swindled and stopped doing business with him,” Bloomberg said.
“Well, this time all of us are paying the price, and we can’t let him get away with it again,” he continued, speaking from Colorado.
The media mogul, 78, had a brief run for president this year, but dropped out of the race after several weak performances in the Democratic debates.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Quarantined NYU students display dismal food options on TikTok

NYU students who are quarantined in their dorm rooms used their favorite social media app to complain about the meals they received on Thursday .
The future scholars — who are paying roughly $ 80,000 per year for their education — used TikTok to display the dismal food opinions after the school said they must quarantine on arrival .
“ Hey , welcome back to , ‘ What NYU gives you to eat when you pay them a million dollars !
, ' ” said one student on TikTok , who is a vegetarian and received meat .
The student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services , who assured her their records were corrected to reflect her proper food preference .
Still , she showed off the underwhelming food options that were reminiscent of a grade-school lunch .
A few slabs of chicken to go along with a hoagie roll and a small side of dressing were given for a DIY sandwich .
For sides , there was an apple , orange , some carrots , graham crackers and a cheese stick .
The meal mishaps exploited by the social media savvy scholars even prompted the university to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain food delivery options .
“ We ’ re committed to improving things promptly , and we regret that things didn ’ t go as well as we had planned from the outset , ” read part of the school ’ s statement , which was posted to social media .
At least two students wrote on TikTok that they never received breakfast or lunch .
One of the two was then delivered all three meals at dinner time .
The breakfast consisted of cereal without milk and a container of warm orange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the student showed off watermelon salad and watermelon salad with chicken .
“ I ’ m gon na be SKINNY # nyu # quarantine # Freshman -15 ” the student jokingly wrote in the TikTok caption .
NYU on Wednesday began welcoming back international students and those from state-designated coronavirus hot-spots .
The students are required to quarantine for 14-days before those from the tri-state area arrive .

NYU students who are quarantined in their dorm rooms used their favorite social media app to complain about the meals they received on Thursday.
The future scholars — who are paying roughly $80,000 per year for their education — used TikTok to display the dismal food opinions after the school said they must quarantine on arrival.
“Hey, welcome back to, ‘What NYU gives you to eat when you pay them a million dollars!,'” said one student on TikTok, who is a vegetarian and received meat.
The student, however, said she emailed dining services, who assured her their records were corrected to reflect her proper food preference.
Still, she showed off the underwhelming food options that were reminiscent of a grade-school lunch.
A few slabs of chicken to go along with a hoagie roll and a small side of dressing were given for a DIY sandwich.
For sides, there was an apple, orange, some carrots, graham crackers and a cheese stick.
The meal mishaps exploited by the social media savvy scholars even prompted the university to give out $100 gift cards for certain food delivery options.
“We’re committed to improving things promptly, and we regret that things didn’t go as well as we had planned from the outset,” read part of the school’s statement, which was posted to social media.
At least two students wrote on TikTok that they never received breakfast or lunch.
One of the two was then delivered all three meals at dinner time. The breakfast consisted of cereal without milk and a container of warm orange juice.
For the other meals, the student showed off watermelon salad and watermelon salad with chicken.
“I’m gonna be SKINNY #nyu #quarantine #Freshman -15” the student jokingly wrote in the TikTok caption.
NYU on Wednesday began welcoming back international students and those from state-designated coronavirus hot-spots. The students are required to quarantine for 14-days before those from the tri-state area arrive.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Thom Brennaman is begging for forgiveness: ‘I need to be better’

Who ’ d a thunk it ?
In our exchanges , he ’ d never even ...

A second apology for using an anti-gay slur on the air couldn’t save Thom Brennaman from losing one of his jobs.
The suspended Reds play-by-play man was also removed by Fox from its lineup of NFL broadcasters for this season. He was already suspended indefinitely from broadcasting Reds games by the team.
He was heard saying “one of the f-g capitals of the world” over a hot mic during a break in the action before continuing the first game of the Reds-Royals doubleheader Wednesday night. It was unclear what he was referring to.
Brennaman apologized on the air before being replaced on the call of the second game by Jim Day. He expressed his remorse again in a letter to the editor in the Cincinnati Enquirer on Thursday.
“I hope the LGBTQ+ community, the Reds and their fans and the people of Cincinnati can find a way to think better of me,” he wrote. “With all the humility I can muster, I ask for your forgiveness.”
He wrote that what he said “was wrong,” he would “never utter it again” and that he “failed” the LGBTQ+ community. He immediately plans to participate in diversity, equity and inclusion training.
“I cannot say enough how sorry I am,” Brennaman wrote.
His contrition wasn’t enough for him to keep his NFL gig, with the season set to begin next month. The 56-year-old has been calling NFL and MLB games for Fox Sports since 1994 and the Reds since 2006, but he will find himself sidelined this football season.
“FOX Sports is extremely disappointed with Thom’s remarks during Wednesday’s Cincinnati Reds telecast,” the network said in a statement. “The language used was abhorrent, unacceptable, and not representative of the values of FOX Sports. As it relates to Brennaman’s FOX NFL role, we are moving forward with our NFL schedule which will not include him.”
In his letter to the editor, Brennaman said his goal now is to show he is capable of learning from his mistakes and setting an example everyone associated with the Reds could be proud of. Chris Welsh, Brennaman’s broadcast partner, said on Wednesday’s broadcast, “You’re a good man, partner. Hang in there.”
Brennaman also apologized in the letter to the team and Major League Baseball. He is the son of Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman.
“Regardless of what my future holds in broadcasting, my actions have forced me to reflect on who I am and how I want to be seen and thought of,” Brennaman wrote. “I realize it is more important than ever for us to treat each other with dignity and respect. I need to be better and I must set a better example.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Trump accuses Democrats of trying to ‘steal’ 2020 election with mail-in voting

President Trump on Thursday flipped a line from Hillary Clinton ’ s 2020 Democratic National Convention speech — claiming it ’ s Democrats who are trying to “ steal the election ” with their push for mail-in voting .
“ This is going to be the greatest scam in history .
This will be the most fraudulent election in history , ” Trump said during a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity Thursday night .
“ It ’ s a terrible thing .
They are trying to steal the election.
” Clinton during Wednesday night ’ s DNC virtual event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” a victory this November .
“ Joe [ Biden ] and Kamala [ Harris ] can win 3 million more votes and still lose .
Take it from me , ” Clinton said .
“ We need numbers so overwhelming Trump can ’ t sneak or steal his way to victory.
” But Trump argued that expanding mail-in ballot use would be a “ horrible disaster ” during his interview .
He again called for a re-do in the tightly contested Democratic primary for New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney ’ s seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Democrat , declared victory six weeks after a primary election that was beset with mail-in ballot problems .
Maloney ’ s challenger , Suraj Patel , has contested the results .
He ’ s claimed more than 12,000 mail-in votes were disqualified over issues with ballots , including lack of postcards — but he doesn ’ t believe ballots were lost or otherwise mishandled .
“ It ’ s what happens to these ballots when they are sent .
Who are they being sent to ?
Where are they going ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump said .
“ Carolyn Maloney should not be able to accept that position , ” he went on .
“ They declared her a winner over a guy who is right now looking around saying , ‘ What happened ?
’ He thought he won .
”

President Trump on Thursday flipped a line from Hillary Clinton’s 2020 Democratic National Convention speech — claiming it’s Democrats who are trying to “steal the election” with their push for mail-in voting.
“This is going to be the greatest scam in history. This will be the most fraudulent election in history,” Trump said during a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity Thursday night. “It’s a terrible thing. They are trying to steal the election.”
Clinton during Wednesday night’s DNC virtual event warned Trump is trying to “steal” a victory this November.
“Joe [Biden] and Kamala [Harris] can win 3 million more votes and still lose. Take it from me,” Clinton said. “We need numbers so overwhelming Trump can’t sneak or steal his way to victory.”
But Trump argued that expanding mail-in ballot use would be a “horrible disaster” during his interview. He again called for a re-do in the tightly contested Democratic primary for New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s seat, the 12th Congressional District.
Maloney, a Democrat, declared victory six weeks after a primary election that was beset with mail-in ballot problems.
Maloney’s challenger, Suraj Patel, has contested the results. He’s claimed more than 12,000 mail-in votes were disqualified over issues with ballots, including lack of postcards — but he doesn’t believe ballots were lost or otherwise mishandled.
“It’s what happens to these ballots when they are sent. Who are they being sent to? Where are they going? You are talking about massive numbers,” Trump said.
“Carolyn Maloney should not be able to accept that position,” he went on. “They declared her a winner over a guy who is right now looking around saying, ‘What happened?’ He thought he won.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Biden clears a low bar, but now he can’t go back into hiding: Goodwin

Who needs conventions , who needs crowded arenas ?
Democrats used the ...

HE did it, he really did it. Joe Biden got through the biggest speech of his life cleanly and coherently, without stumbling or mumbling or getting that faraway dazed look in his eyes.
That sounds like an incredibly low bar because it is, but it reflects the honest and serious debate about Biden’s fitness. His age, 77, past health problems and the obvious signs that his faculties have been diminished raised the unprecedented possibility that he would not be able to carry out one of the routine performances of a major party nominee — give an acceptance speech.
Coming into his party’s virtual coronation, the test was not whether he would give a good speech or a bad speech. It was whether he could give a speech at all.
So congratulations to Biden for clearing a fundamental hurdle. Now the bar is raised and he should be treated as any other candidate. He can start by releasing his health and medical reports, which he has so far refused to do.
Most important, there is no excuse for him to hide any longer in his basement. Hidin’ Biden must be a thing of history.
He must come out into the sunshine and, while protecting himself from COVID, get on the campaign trail and take his claim to the presidency to the people of America.
If he can’t or won’t, how can he possibly be president? Would he isolate himself in the Oval Office?
The enormous promises he made about defeating the killer virus, creating jobs, combating climate change, “removing the stain of racism” and uniting the nation will mean nothing if he continues to shrink from public view.
So, too, his accusation that President Trump’s performance on COVID has been “unforgivable” and that giving the incumbent four more years would let him continue to “fan the flames of hate and division.”
Those claims must be challenged if voters are to be informed. Yet
Biden has so far refused to sit for interviews, making a major break with every other presidential campaign in modern times.
The talk that the Democrat would even skip the three fall debates, promoted by some of his supporters, is similarly unacceptable.
Joe Biden has broken the protective shell and he can’t now wrap himself in it again. Ever.
As for the actual content of the speech, it was more pedestrian than soaring, and the ideas were presented in simple, stark contrasts. Light vs. dark, hope vs. fear, almost always in short sentences.
Two notable points: He did not explicitly promise the huge, socialist-leaning items the left is demanding, though that hardly means the issues are settled. The aim from the Bernie Sanders wing is clearly to help Biden get elected, then move him to the far left.
Also missing was any mention of the violence convulsing the nation’s cities. These are no longer protests over George Floyd.
These are anarchists in Seattle and Portland and elsewhere attacking the police and the courts in direct assaults on society.
In addition, common criminals have stepped into the void left by police forces that have been handcuffed and abandoned by Democratic mayors and governors. This is a major urban crisis that neither Biden nor anyone else over four nights said a single word about.
That is shameful and a major opening for the Trump campaign.
Otherwise, the fourth night was like every other night. With a sneering Hollywood leftist presiding, Julia Louis-Dreyfus this time, the Dems effortlessly cemented their reputation for being a bunch of coastal elitists talking down to voters.
Louis-Dreyfus kept intentionally mispronouncing Vice President Mike Pence’s name as “punce,” as if this would be clever to Middle America.
As in the first three nights, the aim was to paint Trump as the devil and Biden as a saint. We heard so many stories about Biden’s family tragedies and his empathy for others in grief that it often seemed as if he is running to be the consoler-in-chief.
No doubt the pandemic has something to do with that decision, but the relentless repetition made it feel as if the audience was being force-fed a created image as part of a political narrative rather than a true biographical sketch.
Part of that image involved injecting faith into the proceedings, with Sen. Chris Coons giving a semi-sermon on Biden as a devout Catholic. He promised the nominee would be a “servant leader” and, quoting the Book of Micah, insisted that the nominee “knows we are called to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.”
When Republicans have invoked faith as a presidential trait, the secular left always goes crazy, claiming it’s a threat to the separation of church and state. It’s either progress or hypocrisy that there will be no such accusation against the Dems.
I vote for hypocrisy.


newyorkpost--2020-08-21--Issa Rae acknowledges COVID-19’s role in ‘Insecure’ Emmy love

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 ) Issa Rae ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ eight Emmys — but she ’ s giving COVID-19 some credit for the achievement .
@ @ @ @ @ , being quarantined during a period when our humanity was questioned , in a more @ @ @ @ @ ” convince Emmy voters , Rae told the Hollywood Reporter .
“ We came on @ @ @ @ @ were bored at home and also there were racial uprisings , and our show served @ @ @ @ @ she said .

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Issa Rae’s “Insecure” is up for eight Emmys — but she’s giving COVID-19 some credit for the achievement.
“I think the pandemic, being quarantined during a period when our humanity was questioned, in a more front-facing way, definitely helped” convince Emmy voters, Rae told the Hollywood Reporter.
“We came on during a time when people were bored at home and also there were racial uprisings, and our show served as a comfort,” she said.