newyorkpost--2020-09-18--New Movies + Shows to Watch this Weekend: Netflix’s ‘Ratched’ + More

Ah , another week in the books which means another weekend is waiting just ahead for us !
While some people will be busy this weekend celebrating the Jewish New Year ( l ’ shana tova ! )
, that does not mean you can ’ t spend your time hiding from all your relatives bored out of your mind !
Why not use those precious minutes of peace as an opportunity to catch up on all your favorite titles ?
And this weekend , there are a ton of new movies and shows on streaming ready for you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your time figuring out what to watch , because whether you ’ re looking on Netflix , Hulu , Amazon Prime , or all of the above , starting with the freshest titles is always the wisest move .
Here are the new releases you can watch this weekend and where to stream them .
New Movies and Shows to Stream This Weekend : Ratched , PEN15 Season 2 , and All In : The Fight for Democracy People are already buzzing about the binge-worthy shows and new movies on streaming this weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you get behind .
First up on Netflix is the new series Ratched , the thrilling drama show starring Sarah Paulson as the infamous villain from “ One Flew Over the Cuckoo ’ s Nest.
” Over on Hulu , the hysterically-traumatic series Pen15 is releasing its second cringe-worthy season ; and on Amazon Prime Video All In : The Fight for Democracy is ready and waiting for those who are looking to educate themselves on a major issue facing U.S. citizens today : voter suppression .
We could keep raving about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but instead we will just direct you to the content below : Sarah Paulson is Nurse Ratched in the new hit series Ratched on Netflix .
Inspired by the classic novel “ One Flew Over the Cuckoo ’ s Nest , ” this Ryan Murphy and Evan Romansky drama series takes a deep dive into the story behind the novel ’ s main antagonist , Nurse Mildred Ratched and how she scammed , manipulated and bribed her way into psychiatric hospital in 1947 .
Star Sarah Paulson portrays the titular character as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both good and evil , and you never quite know if she considers herself the hero or villain of her own story , making the dark and twisted series that more compelling .
Get ready to meet the real nurse in Ratched , one of the top shows to watch this month on Netflix .
The adorkable comedy series Pen15 is back for another cringe-worthy , hormone-raging season on Hulu .
Creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle are back to play the younger , teenage outcast versions of themselves in this hit comedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , this season you can expect all the same fun but also a twinge of darkness as the show examines the fallout of Anna ’ s parents ’ divorce .
But worry not , Pen15 seems to have beaten the sophomore slump with an impossibly-funnier second season that brings all the laughs and a ton more heart .
New on Amazon Prime Video September 18 : All In : The Fight for Democracy New on Amazon Prime Video is All In : The Fight for Democracy , the exposing documentary about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Through this film , filmmakers Lisa Cortes and Liz Garbus examine the history of voter suppression in the country and introduce us to the activists who are fighting the fight for U.S. citizens today .
With interviews from today ’ s top leaders such as Stacey Abrams , Carol Anderson , Kristen Clarke and more , All In : The Fight for Democracy will inspire you to get to the polls and try to help those who have a harder time doing so .
Stream All In : The Fight for Democracy on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 : All In : The Fight for Democracy *Amazon Original Movie ( 2020 ) Antebellum ( 2020 ) Gemini Man ( 2019 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 ) Becoming – Original Series Premiere : Episodes 101-110 Available *Disney+ Original Bend it Like Beckham Coop & Cami Ask the World ( S2 ) Europe from Above ( S1 ) Ever After : A Cinderella Story Kingdom of the Mummies ( S1 ) Marvel Super Hero Adventures ( s4 ) Notre Dame : Race Against the Inferno Once Upon a Time ( S1-7 ) One Day At Disney – Episode 142 – “ Dr .
Natalie Mylniczenko : Veterinarian ” *Disney+ Original Soy Luna ( S2-3 ) Violetta ( S3 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Trains ” *Disney+ Original Wicked Tuna ( S9 ) Absolute Deception ( 2013 ) Air ( 2015 ) Brigsby Bear ( 2017 ) Buttons : A Christmas Tale ( 2018 ) Gattaca ( 1997 ) Go ( 1999 ) Maggie ’ s Plan ( 2016 ) Man Of The House ( 2005 ) Maudie ( 2017 ) Norman : The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer ( 2017 ) The Ballad Of Lucy Whipple ( 2000 ) The Bravados ( 1958 ) The Broken Land ( 1962 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 2006 ) The Glass House ( 2001 ) The Master Of Disguise ( 2002 ) Third Person ( 2014 ) Truth ( 2015 )

Ah, another week in the books which means another weekend is waiting just ahead for us! While some people will be busy this weekend celebrating the Jewish New Year (l’shana tova!), that does not mean you can’t spend your time hiding from all your relatives bored out of your mind! Why not use those precious minutes of peace as an opportunity to catch up on all your favorite titles? And this weekend, there are a ton of new movies and shows on streaming ready for you to discover. But don’t waste your time figuring out what to watch, because whether you’re looking on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or all of the above, starting with the freshest titles is always the wisest move. Here are the new releases you can watch this weekend and where to stream them.
New Movies and Shows to Stream This Weekend: Ratched, PEN15 Season 2, and All In: The Fight for Democracy
People are already buzzing about the binge-worthy shows and new movies on streaming this weekend, so we won’t let you get behind. First up on Netflix is the new series Ratched, the thrilling drama show starring Sarah Paulson as the infamous villain from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Over on Hulu, the hysterically-traumatic series Pen15 is releasing its second cringe-worthy season; and on Amazon Prime Video All In: The Fight for Democracy is ready and waiting for those who are looking to educate themselves on a major issue facing U.S. citizens today: voter suppression. We could keep raving about the impressive titles new on streaming this weekend, but instead we will just direct you to the content below:
New on Netflix September 18: Ratched
Sarah Paulson is Nurse Ratched in the new hit series Ratched on Netflix. Inspired by the classic novel “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” this Ryan Murphy and Evan Romansky drama series takes a deep dive into the story behind the novel’s main antagonist, Nurse Mildred Ratched and how she scammed, manipulated and bribed her way into psychiatric hospital in 1947. Star Sarah Paulson portrays the titular character as a woman teetering on the edge of both good and evil, and you never quite know if she considers herself the hero or villain of her own story, making the dark and twisted series that more compelling. Get ready to meet the real nurse in Ratched, one of the top shows to watch this month on Netflix.
Stream Ratched on Netflix
New on Hulu September 18: PEN15: Season 2
The adorkable comedy series Pen15 is back for another cringe-worthy, hormone-raging season on Hulu. Creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle are back to play the younger, teenage outcast versions of themselves in this hit comedy series set in the year 2000. However, this season you can expect all the same fun but also a twinge of darkness as the show examines the fallout of Anna’s parents’ divorce. But worry not, Pen15 seems to have beaten the sophomore slump with an impossibly-funnier second season that brings all the laughs and a ton more heart.
Stream PEN15: Season 2 on Hulu
New on Amazon Prime Video September 18: All In: The Fight for Democracy
New on Amazon Prime Video is All In: The Fight for Democracy, the exposing documentary about the truth of voter suppression in America. Through this film, filmmakers Lisa Cortes and Liz Garbus examine the history of voter suppression in the country and introduce us to the activists who are fighting the fight for U.S. citizens today. With interviews from today’s top leaders such as Stacey Abrams, Carol Anderson, Kristen Clarke and more, All In: The Fight for Democracy will inspire you to get to the polls and try to help those who have a harder time doing so.
Stream All In: The Fight for Democracy on 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, September 18
American Barbecue Showdown *NETFLIX ORIGINAL
Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous *NETFLIX FAMILY
Ratched *NETFLIX ORIGINAL
New on Hulu- Full List
Released Friday, September 18
Babyteeth (2019)
Gemini Man (2019)
Pen15: Complete Season 2 (Hulu Original)
Sherman’s Showcase: Black History Month Special (IFC)
StarDog and TurboCat (2020)
The Fight (2020)
Released Sunday, September 20
The Haunted (2020)
New on Amazon Prime Video- Full List
Released Friday, September 18
All In: The Fight for Democracy *Amazon Original Movie (2020)
Antebellum (2020)
Gemini Man (2019)
Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs (2019)
New on Disney+ – Full List
Released Friday, September 18
Becoming – Original Series Premiere: Episodes 101-110 Available *Disney+ Original
Bend it Like Beckham
Coop & Cami Ask the World (S2)
Europe from Above (S1)
Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Kingdom of the Mummies (S1)
Marvel Super Hero Adventures (s4)
Notre Dame: Race Against the Inferno
Once Upon a Time (S1-7)
One Day At Disney – Episode 142 – “Dr. Natalie Mylniczenko: Veterinarian” *Disney+ Original
Soy Luna (S2-3)
Violetta (S3)
Weird But True – Episode 306 – “Trains” *Disney+ Original
Wicked Tuna (S9)
New on HBO- Full List
Released Friday, September 18
Habla Now (HBO)
La Musiquita Por Dentro, 2019 (HBO)
Released Saturday, September 19
The Invisible Man, 2020 (HBO)
New on Starz- Full List
Released Friday, September 18
Absolute Deception (2013)
Air (2015)
Brigsby Bear (2017)
Buttons: A Christmas Tale (2018)
Gattaca (1997)
Go (1999)
Maggie’s Plan (2016)
Man Of The House (2005)
Maudie (2017)
Norman: The Moderate Rise And Tragic Fall Of A New York Fixer (2017)
The Ballad Of Lucy Whipple (2000)
The Bravados (1958)
The Broken Land (1962)
The Bronze (2016)
The Covenant (2006)
The Glass House (2001)
The Master Of Disguise (2002)
Third Person (2014)
Truth (2015)
Released Sunday, September 20
Power Book II: Ghost – Episode 103
New on Showtime- Full List
Released Saturday, September 19
Paranoia
New on BritBox- Full List
Released Friday, September 18
This Farming Life: Season 4 | Exclusive, North American Premiere


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Accused Portland shooter Michael Reinoehl pointed handgun at officers, cops say

The Antifa security guard accused of killing a far-right demonstrator in Portland pointed a pistol at officers when he was fatally shot by members of a federal task force who sought to arrest him on a murder warrant , according to a report .
Michael Forest Reinoehl , 48 , was walking to his car outside an apartment complex in Lacey , Washington , where he was hiding out when the law enforcement officers pulled up and opened fire on Sept. 3 , a witness has said .
He was found to be armed with a .380-caliber handgun , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed at them , according to Thurston County Lt. Ray Brady , The Oregonian reported .
A spent .380-caliber shell casing was found in Reinoehl ’ s vehicle and an AR-15-style .22-caliber rifle with the serial number removed was located in the front seat , according to the Sheriff ’ s Office , the news outlet reported .
Police declined to say where they recovered the handgun , which is undergoing ballistics tests to determine if it is the same weapon used in the Aug. 29 fatal shooting of Aaron “ Jay ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Officers shot multiple rapid-fire rounds at Reinoehl before issuing a brief ‘ stop ’ command , quickly followed by more rapid-fire shooting by additional officers , ” witness Nathaniel Dingess , 39 , has said in a statement .
Reinoehl was holding a cellphone as he walked to his car , but Dingess has said he did not see him holding a gun .
Police later said that a handgun was found on Reinoehl , but did not specify if he pointed it at the cops .
Danielson was part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a demonstration in Portland to counter Black Lives Matter protesters .
In an interview on Vice News that aired the night he was killed , Reinoehl told the outlet “ I had no choice ” but to shoot Danielson .
“ I mean , I , I had a choice , ” he said .
“ I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color .
I wasn ’ t going to do that .
”

The Antifa security guard accused of killing a far-right demonstrator in Portland pointed a pistol at officers when he was fatally shot by members of a federal task force who sought to arrest him on a murder warrant, according to a report.
Michael Forest Reinoehl, 48, was walking to his car outside an apartment complex in Lacey, Washington, where he was hiding out when the law enforcement officers pulled up and opened fire on Sept. 3, a witness has said.
He was found to be armed with a .380-caliber handgun, which officers at the scene told investigators he pointed at them, according to Thurston County Lt. Ray Brady, The Oregonian reported.
A spent .380-caliber shell casing was found in Reinoehl’s vehicle and an AR-15-style .22-caliber rifle with the serial number removed was located in the front seat, according to the sheriff’s office, the news outlet reported.
Police declined to say where they recovered the handgun, which is undergoing ballistics tests to determine if it is the same weapon used in the Aug. 29 fatal shooting of Aaron “Jay” Danielson, 39, in downtown Portland.
“Officers shot multiple rapid-fire rounds at Reinoehl before issuing a brief ‘stop’ command, quickly followed by more rapid-fire shooting by additional officers,” witness Nathaniel Dingess, 39, has said in a statement.
Reinoehl was holding a cellphone as he walked to his car, but Dingess has said he did not see him holding a gun. Police later said a handgun was found on Reinoehl, but did not specify if he pointed it at the cops.
Danielson was part of a group of President Trump supporters holding a demonstration in Portland to counter Black Lives Matter protesters.
In an interview on Vice News that aired the night he was killed, Reinoehl told the outlet “I had no choice” but to shoot Danielson.
“I mean, I, I had a choice,” he said. “I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color. I wasn’t going to do that.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Joe Biden says he would mandate mask use on federal property

Joe Biden said during a town hall event that he can ’ t force the public to wear masks in general — but insisted that he would make people wear them while on federal property to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
“ I can not mandate people wearing masks , ” the Democratic presidential nominee said at the CNN event Thursday night .
“ I would make sure that I would call every governor in the country into the White House , say , ‘ You should be putting mandates out.
’ “ And if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call the mayors in their towns and their cities and say put out mandates , ” he said .
“ I can do that on federal property .
As president , I will do that .
On federal land , I ’ d have the authority.
” The former veep added : “ If you ’ re on federal land , you must wear a mask .
In a federal building , you must wear a mask .
And we could have a fine for them not doing it.
” On Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have the legal authority as president to implement a nationwide mask mandate , he “ can ’ t guarantee you that yet.
” When asked by a reporter how he would implement a national mask mandate , Biden said : “ Our legal team thinks I can do that , based upon the degree to which there ’ s a crisis in those states , and how bad things are for the country.
” He later added “ I would make the case — I ’ d make the case why it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the scientists arrayed to lay out in detail why .
And I would go to every governor … Republican and Democratic governors and I ’ d say , ‘ We have to have this national mandate .
We must do it.
’ ” At last month ’ s Democratic National Convention , Biden suggested a national mask mandate – but his vice presidential running mate Kamala Harris later said no one would be punished if they violated the mandate , calling it a “ standard , ” according to the Washington Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN event , where Biden was tossed softball questions Thursday , was held at PNC Field , home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders , the New York Yankees ’ Triple-A affiliate .

Joe Biden said during a town hall event that he can’t force the public to wear masks in general — but insisted that he would make people wear them while on federal property to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“I cannot mandate people wearing masks,” the Democratic presidential nominee said at the CNN event Thursday night. “I would make sure that I would call every governor in the country into the White House, say, ‘You should be putting mandates out.’
“And if they don’t, I’d call the mayors in their towns and their cities and say put out mandates,” he said. “I can do that on federal property. As president, I will do that. On federal land, I’d have the authority.”
The former veep added: “If you’re on federal land, you must wear a mask. In a federal building, you must wear a mask. And we could have a fine for them not doing it.”
On Wednesday, Biden said that while he believed he would have the legal authority as president to implement a nationwide mask mandate, he “can’t guarantee you that yet.”
When asked by a reporter how he would implement a national mask mandate, Biden said: “Our legal team thinks I can do that, based upon the degree to which there’s a crisis in those states, and how bad things are for the country.”
He later added “I would make the case — I’d make the case why it’s necessary. I’d have the scientists arrayed to lay out in detail why. And I would go to every governor … Republican and Democratic governors and I’d say, ‘We have to have this national mandate. We must do it.’”
At last month’s Democratic National Convention, Biden suggested a national mask mandate – but his vice presidential running mate Kamala Harris later said no one would be punished if they violated the mandate, calling it a “standard,” according to the Washington Times.
The socially distanced “drive-in” CNN event, where Biden was tossed softball questions Thursday, was held at PNC Field, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--‘Forrest Gump’ author Winston Groom dead at 77

FAIRHOPE , Ala. — Winston Groom , the writer whose novel “ Forrest Gump ” was made into a six-Oscar winning 1994 movie that became a soaring pop cultural phenomenon , has died at age 77 .
Mayor Karin Wilson of Fairhope , Alabama , said in a message on social media that Groom had died in that south Alabama town .
A local funeral home also confirmed the death and said arrangements were pending .
“ While he will be remembered for creating Forrest Gump , Winston Groom was a talented journalist & noted author of American history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his family , ” Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey said in a statement .
“ Forrest Gump ” was the improbable tale of a slow-witted but mathematically gifted man who was a participant or witness to key points of 20th century history — from Alabama segregationist Gov .
George Wallace ’ s “ stand at the schoolhouse door , ” to meetings with presidents .
It was the best known book by Groom , who grew up in Mobile , Alabama , and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1965 , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Groom served in the Army ’ s Fourth Infantry Division from 1965 to 1969 , the university said .
His service included a tour in Vietnam — one of the settings for “ Forrest Gump.
” He wrote 16 books , fiction and nonfiction .
One , “ Conversations with the Enemy , ” about a American prisoner of war in Vietnam accused of collaboration , was a Pulitzer Prize finalist , according to the university .
It was “ Forrest Gump ” — and the success of the 1994 movie starring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gump , as well as Sally Field and Gary Sinise — that earned him widespread fame and some financial success .
The novel is considerably different from the film .
Don Noble , University of Alabama professor emeritus of English , and a 40-year friend of Groom ’ s told The Tuscaloosa News that the novel was “ darker ” and “ richer ” than the movie .
“ You can make a lot of money as a comic writer , but you can ’ t get no respect , ” Noble said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is really actually quite a fine novel .
It ’ s more subtle and more complicated … richer than the movie.
” The movie , which also starred Robin Wright and Mykelti Williamson , became deeply embedded in the American psyche and has remained an enduring television staple and huge cultural phenomenon since .
The film dominated the 1995 Academy Awards , winning six Oscars including best picture , best director for Robert Zemeckis and best actor for Hanks .
It was 1994 ’ s No .
2 grossing film at the box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lion King.
” The basic outlines of Gump ’ s life are the same as they are in the book : Gump plays football under Paul “ Bear ” Bryant at the University of Alabama , serves in Vietnam and starts a major shrimp business .
But the film made major departures .
Gump was not a math savant as he was in the book , and was a more saintly soul .
The film took away Gump ’ s size — Groom said he envisioned John Goodman playing him — along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sex life .
They “ took some of the rough edges off , ” Groom told the New York Times in 1994 .
Groom also wrote nonfiction on diverse subjects including the Civil War , World War I and Alabama ’ s Crimson Tide football .
In 2005 , Groom released “ 1942 : The Year That Tried Men ’ s Souls , ” which chronicled the first year of U.S. involvement in World War II .
In 2009 he released “ Vicksburg 1863 , ” an account of the Union siege that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historical figures like Ulysses S. Grant , William T. Sherman and Jefferson Davis , president of the confederacy .
His most recent novel , El Paso , was published in 2016 .
Groom got $ 350,000 for the rights to “ Forrest Gump ” plus 3 % of the net profit of the movie .
But he got into a serious dispute with Paramount Pictures when they told him a film that had earned over $ 600 million was in the red after expenses .
But years later he wasn ’ t bitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he told the Tuscaloosa News .
“ I would have probably preferred my version of it , but that thing never would have opened.
” The book became a major bestseller in the wake of the film , and Groom got a much better deal for the follow-up novel , 1995 ’ s “ Gump and Co. ” “ I ’ m happy as a pig in sunshine , ” he told the Mobile Register .
Nonetheless , sequel-addicted Hollywood somehow never made the new movie .

FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Winston Groom, the writer whose novel “Forrest Gump” was made into a six-Oscar winning 1994 movie that became a soaring pop cultural phenomenon, has died at age 77.
Mayor Karin Wilson of Fairhope, Alabama, said in a message on social media that Groom had died in that south Alabama town. A local funeral home also confirmed the death and said arrangements were pending.
“While he will be remembered for creating Forrest Gump, Winston Groom was a talented journalist & noted author of American history. Our hearts & prayers are extended to his family,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement.
“Forrest Gump” was the improbable tale of a slow-witted but mathematically gifted man who was a participant or witness to key points of 20th century history — from Alabama segregationist Gov. George Wallace’s “stand at the schoolhouse door,” to meetings with presidents.
It was the best known book by Groom, who grew up in Mobile, Alabama, and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1965, according to a biography posted by the university.
Groom served in the Army’s Fourth Infantry Division from 1965 to 1969, the university said. His service included a tour in Vietnam — one of the settings for “Forrest Gump.”
He wrote 16 books, fiction and nonfiction. One, “Conversations with the Enemy,” about a American prisoner of war in Vietnam accused of collaboration, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist, according to the university.
It was “Forrest Gump” — and the success of the 1994 movie starring Tom Hanks in the iconic role of Gump, as well as Sally Field and Gary Sinise — that earned him widespread fame and some financial success.
The novel is considerably different from the film. Don Noble, University of Alabama professor emeritus of English, and a 40-year friend of Groom’s told The Tuscaloosa News that the novel was “darker” and “richer” than the movie.
“You can make a lot of money as a comic writer, but you can’t get no respect,” Noble said. “But ‘Forrest Gump’ is really actually quite a fine novel. It’s more subtle and more complicated … richer than the movie.”
The movie, which also starred Robin Wright and Mykelti Williamson, became deeply embedded in the American psyche and has remained an enduring television staple and huge cultural phenomenon since.
“It touched a nerve,” Groom told the Tuscaloosa News in 2014.
The film dominated the 1995 Academy Awards, winning six Oscars including best picture, best director for Robert Zemeckis and best actor for Hanks.
It was 1994’s No. 2 grossing film at the box office, second only to “The Lion King.”
The basic outlines of Gump’s life are the same as they are in the book: Gump plays football under Paul “Bear” Bryant at the University of Alabama, serves in Vietnam and starts a major shrimp business.
But the film made major departures. Gump was not a math savant as he was in the book, and was a more saintly soul. The film took away Gump’s size — Groom said he envisioned John Goodman playing him — along with his profanity, and most of his sex life.
They “took some of the rough edges off,” Groom told the New York Times in 1994.
Groom also wrote nonfiction on diverse subjects including the Civil War, World War I and Alabama’s Crimson Tide football.
In 2005, Groom released “1942: The Year That Tried Men’s Souls,” which chronicled the first year of U.S. involvement in World War II.
In 2009 he released “Vicksburg 1863,” an account of the Union siege that brought a novelist’s touch to historical figures like Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman and Jefferson Davis, president of the confederacy.
His most recent novel, El Paso, was published in 2016.
Groom got $350,000 for the rights to “Forrest Gump” plus 3% of the net profit of the movie. But he got into a serious dispute with Paramount Pictures when they told him a film that had earned over $600 million was in the red after expenses.
But years later he wasn’t bitter.
“They did an excellent job,” he told the Tuscaloosa News. “I would have probably preferred my version of it, but that thing never would have opened.”
The book became a major bestseller in the wake of the film, and Groom got a much better deal for the follow-up novel, 1995’s “Gump and Co.”
“I’m happy as a pig in sunshine,” he told the Mobile Register.
Nonetheless, sequel-addicted Hollywood somehow never made the new movie.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Tinsley Mortimer explains why she made out with sister Dabney Mercer

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) After shocking “ Real Housewives of New York ” fans earlier this season by saying she ’ d once made out with her sister , Tinsley Mortimer explained herself during Thursday night ’ s reunion .
The 45-year-old called the buzzed-about smooch a “ joke ” on the reunion , prompting host Andy Cohen to ask her , “ Tinsley , how does one make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a joke ?
” “ So , this was like at least 20 years ago , ” Mortimer laughed and explained .
“ We were doing a joke .
I was with a bunch of girls and my sister was one of them and we were saying , like , ‘ How do we kiss ? '
” She continued , “ So we were showing each other how we kissed and so my sister happened to be one of the people that we were both showing how we kiss and it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seconds .
It ’ s no big deal.
” Mortimer ’ s younger sister , Dabney Mercer , has appeared on “ RHONY ” in the past .
Mortimer made the kissing confession this season during the ladies ’ trip to Newport , Rhode Island — before she locked lips with co-star Leah McSweeney .
“ Are you a good kisser ?
Cohen then asked during the reunion .
“ I am a good kisser , ” Mortimer said as McSweeney agreed .
Unfortunately for “ RHONY ” fans , the socialite will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She left the show midway through the season to be with her fiancé , Scott Kluth , in Chicago .
It is unclear when they will tie the knot , as their wedding plans were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic .

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After shocking “Real Housewives of New York” fans earlier this season by saying she’d once made out with her sister, Tinsley Mortimer explained herself during Thursday night’s reunion.
The 45-year-old called the buzzed-about smooch a “joke” on the reunion, prompting host Andy Cohen to ask her, “Tinsley, how does one make out with one’s sister as a joke?”
“So, this was like at least 20 years ago,” Mortimer laughed and explained. “We were doing a joke. I was with a bunch of girls and my sister was one of them and we were saying, like, ‘How do we kiss?'”
She continued, “So we were showing each other how we kissed and so my sister happened to be one of the people that we were both showing how we kiss and it was my sister. It was like two seconds. It’s no big deal.”
Mortimer’s younger sister, Dabney Mercer, has appeared on “RHONY” in the past.
Mortimer made the kissing confession this season during the ladies’ trip to Newport, Rhode Island — before she locked lips with co-star Leah McSweeney.
“Are you a good kisser? Cohen then asked during the reunion.
“I am a good kisser,” Mortimer said as McSweeney agreed.
Unfortunately for “RHONY” fans, the socialite will not be making any more candid confessions. She left the show midway through the season to be with her fiancé, Scott Kluth, in Chicago.
It is unclear when they will tie the knot, as their wedding plans were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Watch 10,000 snail-eating ducks ‘clean’ a rice paddy

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These ducks are mighty. Stunning drone footage filmed in Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom province shows roughly 10,000 ducks descending upon a rice field to eat pests after a harvest. Watch as the hungry birds zig-zag toward the nutrient-rich rice paddies for their scrumptious clean-up job.
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newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Taxi driver shot in the neck during attempted robbery in Brooklyn

A taxi driver was shot in the neck during an attempted robbery in Brooklyn early Friday , cops said .
@ @ @ @ @ of the green cab fired at the 62-year-old green cab driver at Bogart and Grattan @ @ @ @ @ midnight , police said .
The gunman had tried to rob the driver , but @ @ @ @ @ suspect ran off and had not been arrested early Friday .
The victim was taken @ @ @ @ @ Center with a non-life-threatening graze wound to the back of his neck .

A Brooklyn green cab driver was shot in the neck early Friday by an irate passenger upset about the fare, cops and police sources said.
Cabbie Perviaz Iqbal, 62, was picking up his last fare of the night — a woman, from Ashford Street in East New York, when, midway through the ride, she asked him to pick up a friend at Saratoga Avenue in Brownsville, according to police sources and the victim’s daughter, Samra Perviaz.
He agreed and stopped to pick up a man, Samra said.
At some point, according to police sources, Iqbal picked up a few other people.
But only the man and woman were in the car when they reached the final destination, Bogart and Grattan streets in Williamsburg, around midnight, the cabbie’s family said.
Iqbal told the duo the fare was $32.
“They paid $31,” his daughter told the Post. “The guy then said, ‘Give me back $10.’ My dad said ‘no.’”
“He had the car phone sitting on the seat beside him,” she added. “The guy tried to snatch it. His hand couldn’t go through the slot. It was too small.”
The unidentified backseat passenger then opened the partition and put a gun to the driver’s neck, the sources said.
“That’s when they shot my father and opened the door and ran,” empty-handed, Samra said.
“The bullet went through the back of his shirt collar and touched the back of his head,” she added. “He felt pain. He touched the back of his head and it was bleeding. He had blood on his shirt.”
Still, he was able to drive himself to Evergreen Avenue in Bushwick, where he called 911, according to police sources.
He was taken to Kings County Hospital where he was treated and discharged around 5 a.m. Friday, his daughter said.
He was in a state of shock Friday afternoon, his family said. Iqbal had been driving a cab for 20 years and was never the victim of an assault or robbery.
“Just for $10 you are going to take someone’s life?” Samra said. “Can you believe that? That’s crazy. It doesn’t make sense.”
“He is sitting in the chair,” she added. “We tell him to go and rest but he is still sitting there. He is saying, ‘I don’t understand it. I’m scared. I’ve been driving for so long and nothing ever happened.’”
The driver’s son, Sulman Perviaz, called the incident “a close, close call.”
“We don’t want him to work,” he said. “It’s not safe out there on the streets.”
No one has been arrested in connection to the shooting.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--NYS distributing $300 weekly jobless benefits to 2.26 million residents

The Cuomo administration finally distributed unemployment insurance benefits this week to 2.26 million New Yorkers — $ 1.9 billion in total — just weeks after the White House accused the state of dragging its feet on the matter .
The state Labor Department said the jobless New Yorkers received retroactive federal Lost Wage Assistance benefits of $ 300 each for the weeks of August 2 , 9th and 16th .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency , which is overseeing the program , approved New York for a second and final round of benefits — for a maximum of six weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 300 LWA payments retroactively to about 2.3 million New Yorkers for the weeks of Aug. 23 , 30th and Sept. 6 , beginning next week .
“ Over the last six months , we have moved heaven and earth to connect millions of New Yorkers with their benefits , including nearly $ 1.9 billion in Lost Wages Assistance payments distributed just this week , ” said state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon .
Reardon blamed any snafus on the federal government , and noted benefits are limited to six weeks .
“ While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost wages assistance program is now finally providing unemployed families with much-needed support — and it is unconscionable for the Federal government to once again cut Americans off from this support , ” she said .
“ Leaders in Washington D.C. must pass a comprehensive package that supports unemployed families and the state and local governments that are hurting from this pandemic .
Anything less is simply unacceptable.
” Trump authorized the federal unemployment insurance by executive order on Aug. 8 after the $ 600-a-week payments provided by the CARES Act expired on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extension plan .
Cuomo initially opposed Trump ’ s alternative program as “ laughable ” and “ impossible ” when it was first announced because it required that states kick in an additional $ 100 a week for each unemployed worker — something he said cash-strapped New York couldn ’ t afford .
The White House subsequently waived that requirement .
The White House had accused Team Cuomo of dithering in applying for the president ’ s offer of the $ 300 bonus to the unemployed through the $ 44 billion Lost Wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Post inquired about it .
Labor Department officials announced last week that New York qualified for the program and would begin releasing funds .
In total , New York State has paid $ 44.5 billion in benefits to New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic — representing more than 21 typical years ’ worth of benefits paid in just six months .
Meanwhile the Labor Department reported new jobless figures that show an improvement in the unemployment rate , which is still high .
The state unemployment rate dipped from 16 percent in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City ’ s unemployment rate dropped from 20 percent to 16 percent But there were still 626,000 fewer jobs in the city compared to August , 2019 , when the unemployment rate was 3.9 percent .

The Cuomo administration finally started distributing unemployment insurance benefits this week to 2.26 million New Yorkers — $1.9 billion in total — weeks after the White House accused the state of dragging its feet on the matter.
The state Labor Department said the jobless New Yorkers received retroactive federal Lost Wage Assistance benefits of $300 each for the weeks of Aug. 2, 9 and 16.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is overseeing the program, approved New York for a second and final round of benefits — for a maximum of six weeks of payments..
The Labor Department will process $300 LWA payments retroactively to about 2.3 million New Yorkers for the weeks of Aug. 23, 30 and Sept. 6, beginning next week.
“Over the last six months, we have moved heaven and earth to connect millions of New Yorkers with their benefits, including nearly $1.9 billion in Lost Wages Assistance payments distributed just this week,” said state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon.
Reardon blamed any snafus on the federal government, and noted benefits are limited to six weeks.
“While plagued with administrative roadblocks, the federal lost wages assistance program is now finally providing unemployed families with much-needed support — and it is unconscionable for the Federal government to once again cut Americans off from this support,” she said.
“Leaders in Washington D.C. must pass a comprehensive package that supports unemployed families and the state and local governments that are hurting from this pandemic. Anything less is simply unacceptable.”
Trump authorized the federal unemployment insurance by executive order on Aug. 8 after the $600-a-week payments provided by the CARES Act expired on July 31 and Congress deadlocked on an extension plan.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo initially opposed Trump’s alternative program as “laughable” and “impossible” when it was first announced because it required that states kick in an additional $100 a week for each unemployed worker — something he said cash-strapped New York couldn’t afford. The White House subsequently waived that requirement.
The White House had accused Team Cuomo of dithering in applying for the president’s offer of the $300 bonus to the unemployed through the $44 billion Lost Wages Program, and only did so after The Post inquired about it.
Labor Department officials announced last week that New York qualified for the program and would begin releasing funds.
In total, New York state has paid $44.5 billion in benefits to New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic — representing more than 21 typical years’ worth of benefits paid in just six months.
Meanwhile, the Labor Department reported new jobless figures that show an improvement in the unemployment rate, which is still high.
The state unemployment rate dipped from 16 percent in July to 12.5 percent in August.
New York City’s unemployment rate dropped from 20 percent to 16 percent. But there were still 626,000 fewer jobs in the city compared to August 2019, when the unemployment rate was 3.9 percent.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Suffolk police face $20M cut amid fiscal crisis, county executive says

The city ’ s loss is their gain .

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone plans to slash police spending by $20 million to deal with a fiscal crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Bellone, who will unveil his grim plan later Friday, told The Post he’s canceling two police recruitment classes for 200 police officers to save $9 million and suspending the class for 40 deputy sheriffs, to trim another $1.5 million.
The proposal also axes $1 million from the police department’s crime scene section.
Moreover, the plan eliminates $1 million in funding for the popular school officer resources program, where Suffolk cops go into the schools to talk to students.
The proposal also slashes $5 million in county aid to five independently run East End town police departments.
He’s freezing police promotions to save another $1 million.
The bitter medicine comes as Suffolk has become a go-to destination for wealthy New York City residents seeking refuge from the pandemic, particularly decamping in the Hamptons and other East End other locales beyond the summer.
While announcing the cuts, Bellone, a moderate Democrat, appealed to President Trump to help preserve the quality of life in Suffolk and other suburbs by getting the Republican-led Senate to agree to a COVID-19 relief package that would help preserve police and health services provided by local governments.
He pointed out that Trump knows Suffolk well and has attended fundraisers in the Hamptons.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has a home in Suffolk, he noted.
“We’re one of the safest suburban counties in the country. We want to keep it that way,” Bellone said.
A recent financial report estimated that Suffolk County faces a projected $1.5 billion shortfall over the next three years because of a shrinking economy and plummeting tax revenues caused by the pandemic.
Suffolk’s total budget is $3.2 billion, which includes state and federal funds. The police budget is $530 million.
Bellone said deeper and more painful cuts are in the works if Washington doesn’t deliver relief.
“This is the first in a series of announcements we’ll have to make. There will be more cuts,” he said.
Earlier this year, Bellone reached an agreement with Suffolk’s public employee unions to suspend longevity pay increases for workers for six months, to save $30 million.
He said negotiations are ongoing with union leaders about further cuts and did not rule out layoffs.
The Suffolk government employs 9,200 employees, including about 2,000 in the police department.
Bellone and the Suffolk Legislature are expected to hammer out a budget deal in November for the 2021 fiscal year.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio has threatened thousands of layoffs if D.C. doesn’t deliver a bailout package or Albany rebuffs his request for authorization to borrow up to $5 billion to get through the pandemic-fueled fiscal crisis.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Aaron Judge on Yankees’ chances: ‘We have best team out there’

So much about baseball has changed since March 12 , when the first spring training was shut down due to the coronavirus .
Empty ballparks .
Seven-inning doubleheaders .
Designated hitters in the AL and NL .
Alternate sites replaced minor league games .
Teams forced to quarantine after players tested positive for COVID-19 .
Bubbles in front of postseason bubbles .
The World Series will be played at a neutral site in Texas .
Yet through all the changes caused by the pandemic , one issue remains intact : Aaron Judge ’ s feelings about who the best team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think they are the same as when the season started , ’ ’ Judge said of the Yankees ’ expectations , before they swept three games from the Blue Jays with a 10-7 victory on Thursday night at the Stadium .
“ I feel we have the best team out there .
We had a lot of key guys miss some time .
We are getting back to full strength at the right time , right at the stretch .
This is the best time to be hot.
’ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team among the 16 clubs that will qualify for the water-downed postseason .
However , based on how the Yankees rebounded from a 5-15 stretch to carry a seven-game winning streak into Thursday night ’ s action , it ’ s hard to argue the Yankees aren ’ t an elite team .
They may not be able to catch the Rays in the AL East race — they were three games back Thursday , and the Rays held the tiebreaker because they won the season series , 8-2 .
However , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently added Giancarlo Stanton , Gio Urshela and Judge , to DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit , and solid pitching from the rotation and bullpen should be taken lightly .
Judge returned from the injured list ( right calf ) Wednesday night and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and started in right field .
Judge wasn ’ t in Thursday ’ s lineup .
Stanton surfaced from the IL on Wednesday and went 0-for-4 with a walk and struck out twice as the DH .
He didn ’ t play Wednesday but returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28-21 Yankees had 10 games remaining .
They held a 1 ½-game lead over the Blue Jays in the race for second place in the AL East .
With the Twins losing to the White Sox on Thursday afternoon , the Yankees started 1 ½ games in back of them for the best record among the three second-place finishers .
The winner of that race gets the fourth seed and three first-round games at home .
That is key because the Yankees were 20-7 in the Bronx going into Thursday night ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road .
“ The most important games are right now .
The season is not over , ’ ’ said Judge , whose team has a three-game series against the dreadful Red Sox at Fenway Park this weekend , four with the Blue Jays in Buffalo and three games against the Marlins next weekend , which will end the regular season .
“ We [ have ] got to do what we need to do against Toronto and Boston and finish strong against Miami.
” Judge admitted he felt tightness when he came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 and returned to the IL after one game .
“ I felt a little bit of tightness when I came back the first time , ” Judge said .
“ There was a little tightness in the calf .
Before it felt a little tight but no pain so if felt like it was something I could play with.
” “ Not tightness , no pain .
When there was no tightness , I felt I was ready to go , ’ ’ said Judge , who tested the calf during simulated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
“ [ Wednesday night ] I was a little more amped up and ready to go and everything felt great .
I had to fight with [ Aaron Boone ] to get me in the lineup.
’ ’ According to Boone , Judge will likely play Friday and Saturday and possibly sit Sunday .
If everything goes well , Judge and Stanton could play three or four days next week .

So much about baseball has changed since March 12, when the first spring training was shut down due to the coronavirus.
Empty ballparks. Seven-inning doubleheaders. Designated hitters in the AL and NL. Alternate sites replaced minor league games. Teams forced to quarantine after players tested positive for COVID-19. Bubbles in front of postseason bubbles. The World Series will be played at a neutral site in Texas.
Yet through all the changes caused by the pandemic, one issue remains intact: Aaron Judge’s feelings about who the best team in baseball is as the postseason approaches.
“I think they are the same as when the season started,’’ Judge said of the Yankees’ expectations, before they swept three games from the Blue Jays with a 10-7 victory on Thursday night at the Stadium. “I feel we have the best team out there. We had a lot of key guys miss some time. We are getting back to full strength at the right time, right at the stretch. This is the best time to be hot.’’
October will determine who is the best team among the 16 clubs that will qualify for the water-downed postseason. However, based on how the Yankees rebounded from a 5-15 stretch to carry a seven-game winning streak into Thursday night’s action, it’s hard to argue the Yankees aren’t an elite team. They may not be able to catch the Rays in the AL East race — they were three games back Thursday, and the Rays held the tiebreaker because they won the season series, 8-2.
However, that doesn’t mean a lineup that recently added Giancarlo Stanton, Gio Urshela and Judge, to DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit, and solid pitching from the rotation and bullpen should be taken lightly.
Judge returned from the injured list (right calf) Wednesday night and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and started in right field. Judge wasn’t in Thursday’s lineup. Stanton surfaced from the IL on Wednesday and went 0-for-4 with a walk and struck out twice as the DH. He didn’t play Wednesday but returned Thursday.
Starting Thursday night, the 28-21 Yankees had 10 games remaining. They held a 1 ½-game lead over the Blue Jays in the race for second place in the AL East. With the Twins losing to the White Sox on Thursday afternoon, the Yankees started 1 ½ games in back of them for the best record among the three second-place finishers. The winner of that race gets the fourth seed and three first-round games at home. That is key because the Yankees were 20-7 in the Bronx going into Thursday night’s action, compared to 8-14 on the road.
“The most important games are right now. The season is not over,’’ said Judge, whose team has a three-game series against the dreadful Red Sox at Fenway Park this weekend, four with the Blue Jays in Buffalo and three games against the Marlins next weekend, which will end the regular season. “We [have] got to do what we need to do against Toronto and Boston and finish strong against Miami.”
Judge admitted he felt tightness when he came back from right calf strain on Aug. 25 and returned to the IL after one game.
“I felt a little bit of tightness when I came back the first time,” Judge said. “There was a little tightness in the calf. Before it felt a little tight but no pain so if felt like it was something I could play with.”
And this time?
“Not tightness, no pain. When there was no tightness, I felt I was ready to go,’’ said Judge, who tested the calf during simulated games at the alternate site in Scranton this week. “[Wednesday night] I was a little more amped up and ready to go and everything felt great. I had to fight with [Aaron Boone] to get me in the lineup.’’
According to Boone, Judge will likely play Friday and Saturday and possibly sit Sunday. If everything goes well, Judge and Stanton could play three or four days next week.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Mets taking it slow with Jacob deGrom’s hamstring injury

PHILADELPHIA — Jacob deGrom ’ s right hamstring is showing improvement , but the Mets are still taking it slow in declaring the right-hander set for his next scheduled start .
A day after the Mets ace departed after just two innings because of a spasm in the hamstring , manager Luis Rojas was encouraged with the signs .
“ The response was actually positive , so it ’ s a progression from [ Wednesday ] to how he feels , ” Rojas said before the Mets beat the Phillies , 10-6 , at Citizens Bank Park .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catch , so it ’ s a good day , positive day .
We caught it early , but let ’ s go day-to-day still .
“ The focus was on the hamstring spasm and he wasn ’ t feeling anything near what he felt [ Wednesday ] so we are going to go off that.
” DeGrom appeared loose and in good spirits during a pregame conversation with former teammate Zack Wheeler in front of the Mets dugout .
DeGrom , who is chasing a third straight National League Cy Young Award @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Nationals next week .
In his abbreviated start , deGrom allowed three earned runs over two innings against the Phillies and saw his ERA jump from 1.69 to 2.09 .
The Reds ’ Trevor Bauer now leads the NL with a 1.71 ERA .
Entering Thursday deGrom ranked fifth in the NL in ERA .
Andres Gimenez entered play with a .928 OPS over his previous 14 games , also shining defensively at shortstop .
Over the past two weeks he ’ s become the starter , displacing Amed Rosario .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s a dream that I had since I was a kid , and I am just grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that , ” said Gimenez , who went 0-for-3 with two walks and a scored run .
The 22-year-old rookie likely would have spent most of this year at Triple-A Syracuse , but the abbreviated 60-game schedule and cancellation of the minor league season may have played to his favor .
“ It ’ s been a little crazy year for me , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to help the team every day , ” Gimenez said .
“ That is the most important thing that I always had in my head was just to help the team to win.
” The Mets entered play with five qualified players owning on-base percentages above .380 , which would set a franchise record if it holds .
The 2004 Red Sox were the last team with five players above the mark .
The Mets set a franchise record with four in 1999 .

PHILADELPHIA — Jacob deGrom’s right hamstring is showing improvement, but the Mets are still taking it slow in declaring the right-hander set for his next scheduled start.
A day after the Mets ace departed after just two innings because of a spasm in the hamstring, manager Luis Rojas was encouraged with the signs.
“The response was actually positive, so it’s a progression from [Wednesday] to how he feels,” Rojas said before the Mets beat the Phillies, 10-6, at Citizens Bank Park. “He was able to go out and play catch, so it’s a good day, positive day. We caught it early, but let’s go day-to-day still.
“The focus was on the hamstring spasm and he wasn’t feeling anything near what he felt [Wednesday] so we are going to go off that.”
DeGrom appeared loose and in good spirits during a pregame conversation with former teammate Zack Wheeler in front of the Mets dugout. DeGrom, who is chasing a third straight National League Cy Young Award, has scheduled starts against the Rays and Nationals next week.
In his abbreviated start, deGrom allowed three earned runs over two innings against the Phillies and saw his ERA jump from 1.69 to 2.09. The Reds’ Trevor Bauer now leads the NL with a 1.71 ERA. Entering Thursday deGrom ranked fifth in the NL in ERA.
Andres Gimenez entered play with a .928 OPS over his previous 14 games, also shining defensively at shortstop. Over the past two weeks he’s become the starter, displacing Amed Rosario.
“Getting the opportunity to play every day, it’s a dream that I had since I was a kid, and I am just grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that,” said Gimenez, who went 0-for-3 with two walks and a scored run.
The 22-year-old rookie likely would have spent most of this year at Triple-A Syracuse, but the abbreviated 60-game schedule and cancellation of the minor league season may have played to his favor.
“It’s been a little crazy year for me, but I feel really blessed to be here and be able to help the team every day,” Gimenez said. “That is the most important thing that I always had in my head was just to help the team to win.”
The Mets entered play with five qualified players owning on-base percentages above .380, which would set a franchise record if it holds. The 2004 Red Sox were the last team with five players above the mark. The Mets set a franchise record with four in 1999.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Tom Brady doesn’t think much of brewing controversy with Bruce Arians

TAMPA , Fla. — Tom Brady had little to say Thursday in response to coach Bruce Arians ’ critical assessment of the quarterback ’ s play during the six-time Super Bowl champion ’ s debut with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
Arians made headlines after the Bucs fell to New Orleans 34-23 in the season opener , initially attributing a pair of interceptions to mistakes by Brady , who signed with the team in free agency after 20 years with the New England Patriots .
The coach later said receiver Mike Evans was at fault for one of the interceptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ bad decision ” on a sideline throw that Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins returned for a touchdown .
“ He ’ s a coach .
I ’ m a player , ” Brady said Thursday .
“ Just trying to win a game.
” Hall of Famer Brett Favre is among many who have questioned whether Arians , who doesn ’ t shy away from criticizing his players , should have called out his quarterback in public .
The coach said Wednesday that his relationship with Brady is good .
“ Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t really care what other people think .
It ’ s just what he and I think , ” Arians said .
“ We left the stadium fine .
… There ’ s nothing to talk about.
” Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich played for Arians in Pittsburgh , when the coach was the offensive coordinator and Leftwich was a backup to Ben Roethlisberger .
“ That ’ s what I know of B.A .
Me and Tom didn ’ t really talk about it , so obviously I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Leftwich said .
“ It ’ s B.A .
being B.A .
All we can worry about is getting to practice , work , get better ( and ) try to fix our mistakes so we can go out there and try to win football games.
” The offensive coordinator expects Brady to rebound Sunday against the Carolina Panthers .
“ He ’ s the best for a reason .
The way that his mind works , the way that he sees the game .
Like I said , he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a unique guy because of the way he sees football , ” Leftwich said .
“ I don ’ t expect ( anything ) different from him .
I expect he ’ s going to come in and do what he can .
Bring energy , bring excitement to the game ( and ) to the team , and do all the things possible for us to execute at a high level .
”

TAMPA, Fla. — Tom Brady had little to say Thursday in response to coach Bruce Arians’ critical assessment of the quarterback’s play during the six-time Super Bowl champion’s debut with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Arians made headlines after the Bucs fell to New Orleans 34-23 in the season opener, initially attributing a pair of interceptions to mistakes by Brady, who signed with the team in free agency after 20 years with the New England Patriots.
The coach later said receiver Mike Evans was at fault for one of the interceptions, but remained adamant that Brady made a “bad decision” on a sideline throw that Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins returned for a touchdown.
“He’s a coach. I’m a player,” Brady said Thursday. “Just trying to win a game.”
Hall of Famer Brett Favre is among many who have questioned whether Arians, who doesn’t shy away from criticizing his players, should have called out his quarterback in public.
The coach said Wednesday that his relationship with Brady is good.
“Tom and I are fine, so I don’t really care what other people think. It’s just what he and I think,” Arians said. “We left the stadium fine. … There’s nothing to talk about.”
Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich played for Arians in Pittsburgh, when the coach was the offensive coordinator and Leftwich was a backup to Ben Roethlisberger.
“That’s what I know of B.A. Me and Tom didn’t really talk about it, so obviously I don’t think it was an issue,” Leftwich said. “It’s B.A. being B.A. All we can worry about is getting to practice, work, get better (and) try to fix our mistakes so we can go out there and try to win football games.”
The offensive coordinator expects Brady to rebound Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
“He’s the best for a reason. The way that his mind works, the way that he sees the game. Like I said, he’s a special guy. He’s a unique guy because of the way he sees football,” Leftwich said. “I don’t expect (anything) different from him. I expect he’s going to come in and do what he can. Bring energy, bring excitement to the game (and) to the team, and do all the things possible for us to execute at a high level.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Yankees’ Aaron Boone hoping to be in MLB bubble for a long time

Homer barrage is not enough .
It doesn ’ t do it .
We ...

When the Yankees return from Buffalo late next Thursday night, they will check into a New York hotel and play the final three games of the regular season while living in a bubble atmosphere.
Should they not grab the fourth seed in the AL postseason, the Yankees would open on the road and never play at Yankee Stadium again until next year because, following the first round, all playoff games will be played with teams in housing bubbles in Texas and California.
So, Aaron Boone packed two suitcases for a five-to-six week trip he hopes ends with the Yankees’ first World Series title since 2009.
“It was bye to wife, mother-in-law and kids,’’ Boone said before the Yankees topped the Blue Jays, 10-7, at Yankee Stadium on Thursday evening. “Hopefully for a little while.’’
Asked if it was tough to say so long, Boone agreed but explained it is all part of a very weird season.
“Yeah, but understanding we signed up for this and my family is very supportive, and with school back in and things going on, their world is very busy right now, too,’’ Boone said. “Try to make the most of FaceTime and hopefully come home with a prize.’’
Aaron Judge’s opinion of being put in a postseason bubble hasn’t changed.
“I am not a fan of the bubble, not a fan of the whole set up,’’ Judge said. “Like I said before, it doesn’t reward a team for going out and winning. There really is no home-field advantage anymore. To be put into a bubble before the playoffs. I thought we were doing that this whole season.’’
Boone didn’t say he is ready to pair staff ace Gerrit Cole with catcher Kyle Higashioka in the postseason, but the manager said that scenario is on the table.
“Definitely something we are considering. Obviously, it’s been a good pairing,’’ Boone said one day after Cole and Higashioka worked well for a third straight game in a 13-2 win, in which Cole allowed a run and three hits in seven innings.
Boone’s other option is to start Gary Sanchez with Cole, but there are several reasons why that might not work out. One, if Giancarlo Stanton is healthy, he will be the DH, and that leaves no room in the lineup for Sanchez. And if Sanchez is behind the plate, Cole’s numbers are much better with Higashioka than Sanchez.
In three games throwing to Higashioka, who has caught Cole’s last three starts, Cole has a 0.90 ERA, has held hitters to a .127 average and a .395 OPS. In eight games working with Sanchez, Cole has a 3.91 ERA, hitters are batting .224 and have a .776 OPS.
“I do like the page and the rhythm Higgy and Gerrit have been in here these last few [games] so it is something I am considering,’’ Boone said.
As for setting up Cole and Masahiro Tanaka to start the first two games of the postseason, preparing the right-handers for that is being discussed. On a normal schedule, Cole and Tanaka would start the final two games of the regular season, and that isn’t likely to happen because they wouldn’t have regular rest for the first two postseason games.
“Those are conversations we are starting to have,’’ Boone said of how best prepare his Game 1 and Game 2 starters for the postseason, which starts Sept. 29, two days after the regular season ends.
Gleyber Torres returned to the lineup Thursday night after not starting the previous three games due to a quadriceps problem and went 1-for-5 with a homer.
Brett Gardner’s homer in the fourth inning was his 73rd at the current Yankee Stadium and pushed him past Alex Rodriguez for third on the all-time list. He trails Mark Teixeira (113) and Robinson Cano (82).
Sanchez doubled in the seven-run fourth and homered in the eighth. It was Sanchez’s 114th homer in his 413 big-league game. That is the third-most in major league history after 413 games. Ryan Howard (129) is first and Judge (119) is second.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Luis Rojas deserves managerial job — with the Mets or elsewhere

For such a reserved guy , Luis Rojas sure seems to stumble onto a bunch of loud situations .
Credit the Mets , who could find ways to complicate dry toast .
Fittingly , assessing the Mets ’ rookie manager ’ s status , conducting his performance review from a pandemic-shortened season with an ownership change likely imminent — good time now to mention he got the job shortly before spring training thanks to an epic sign-stealing scandal ?
— feels awfully complex .
And here ’ s my tangled conclusion : He hasn ’ t made himself a must-keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to think that , if Steve Cohen decides to clean house , he should receive another opportunity to manage in the major leagues .
The 39-year-old exemplified just how draining his first go-round has been , and just how hard he has worked to maintain his high stock , on Thursday night as his Mets outlasted the Phillies , 10-6 , at Citizens Bank Park , for their second straight come-from-behind win as they pulled within 1 ¹/₂ games of the Phillies for the National League ’ s final playoff slot .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would bode well for them moving forward in a normal season ( and helps explain why the projection models to make the postseason remain in the 20 percent range ) .
In this reduced season , a 23-27 record just means you ’ re not attaining your full potential ( cue the talk of poor baserunning , defense and situational hitting ) .
There ’ s no reason to think Brodie Van Wagenen would jettison Rojas , whom he tabbed in January to replace Carlos Beltran after Astrosgate hit , from this small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s hardly a guarantee that Cohen , assuming he gets approved by the other owners to purchase the Mets , will retain Van Wagenen to run his baseball operations .
And if Cohen does go in a different direction , he must give such a new baseball boss full authority on the skipper .
If it does wind up one and done for Rojas as a Mets manager , then he should quickly wind up on another team ’ s short list .
Because his strong interpersonal skills , his comfort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from spending five minutes with him .
Because he ’ s bilingual .
Because if you spend as many years in the minor leagues as Rojas did , playing for six years then managing for 12 years , it gives you gravitas in any clubhouse .
To offer constructive criticism for Rojas , I ’ d identify two areas where he can improve the most , whether it ’ s with the Mets or elsewhere : Pitching changes .
As per Baseball-Reference.com , Rojas used 4.2 pitchers per game through Wednesday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In an age when many bellyache about quick hooks , I ’ d contend that Rojas proved not quick enough too often , particularly during three-game sweep at Philadelphia Aug. 14-16 and when Robert Gsellman fractured a rib last week during his longest outing of the year by 17 pitches .
Media relations .
While Rojas ’ sincerity shines through during his news conferences , he should realize that wide latitude exists between staying in sync with your front office and not sounding fully scripted .
You can do both , easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager and the team as it conveys its message to the media and fans .
Asked to identify his biggest challenges of his first season doing this , Rojas listed a litany of items from keeping tabs on guys during the shutdown to enforcing the COVID protocols to determining playing time , among others .
“ They ’ ve been things I ’ ve had to learn in different ways so the guys get the best out of my version as manager , and also the coaches as well , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come .
If that doesn ’ t come with the Mets , then it ’ s on Cohen to find someone with as much upside as this intriguing managerial prospect .

For such a reserved guy, Luis Rojas sure seems to stumble onto a bunch of loud situations. Credit the Mets, who could find ways to complicate dry toast.
Fittingly, assessing the Mets’ rookie manager’s status, conducting his performance review from a pandemic-shortened season with an ownership change likely imminent — good time now to mention he got the job shortly before spring training thanks to an epic sign-stealing scandal? — feels awfully complex. And here’s my tangled conclusion:
He hasn’t made himself a must-keep. Yet Rojas has displayed the potential to think that, if Steve Cohen decides to clean house, he should receive another opportunity to manage in the major leagues.
The 39-year-old exemplified just how draining his first go-round has been, and just how hard he has worked to maintain his high stock, on Thursday night as his Mets outlasted the Phillies, 10-6, at Citizens Bank Park, for their second straight come-from-behind win as they pulled within 1 ¹/₂ games of the Phillies for the National League’s final playoff slot.
The Mets’ positive run differential of 252-246 would bode well for them moving forward in a normal season (and helps explain why the projection models to make the postseason remain in the 20 percent range). In this reduced season, a 23-27 record just means you’re not attaining your full potential (cue the talk of poor baserunning, defense and situational hitting).
There’s no reason to think Brodie Van Wagenen would jettison Rojas, whom he tabbed in January to replace Carlos Beltran after Astrosgate hit, from this small sample. On the flip side, it’s hardly a guarantee that Cohen, assuming he gets approved by the other owners to purchase the Mets, will retain Van Wagenen to run his baseball operations. And if Cohen does go in a different direction, he must give such a new baseball boss full authority on the skipper.
If it does wind up one and done for Rojas as a Mets manager, then he should quickly wind up on another team’s short list. Because his strong interpersonal skills, his comfort in his own skin, are apparent from spending five minutes with him. Because he’s bilingual. Because if you spend as many years in the minor leagues as Rojas did, playing for six years then managing for 12 years, it gives you gravitas in any clubhouse.
To offer constructive criticism for Rojas, I’d identify two areas where he can improve the most, whether it’s with the Mets or elsewhere:
Pitching changes. As per Baseball-Reference.com, Rojas used 4.2 pitchers per game through Wednesday’s action, slightly less than the average. In an age when many bellyache about quick hooks, I’d contend that Rojas proved not quick enough too often, particularly during three-game sweep at Philadelphia Aug. 14-16 and when Robert Gsellman fractured a rib last week during his longest outing of the year by 17 pitches.
Media relations. While Rojas’ sincerity shines through during his news conferences, he should realize that wide latitude exists between staying in sync with your front office and not sounding fully scripted. You can do both, easily, and doing so behooves both the manager and the team as it conveys its message to the media and fans.
Asked to identify his biggest challenges of his first season doing this, Rojas listed a litany of items from keeping tabs on guys during the shutdown to enforcing the COVID protocols to determining playing time, among others.
“They’ve been things I’ve had to learn in different ways so the guys get the best out of my version as manager, and also the coaches as well,” he said.
His best should be yet to come. If that doesn’t come with the Mets, then it’s on Cohen to find someone with as much upside as this intriguing managerial prospect.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Saquon Barkley’s Giants star comes with all of its burdens

No one lights a fire under Giants stars quite like ...

There have been prickly issues surrounding Saquon Barkley from the moment the Giants took him with the No. 2 pick on the evening of April 26, 2018. The one that has the most legs is the simplest one: Why would Dave Gettleman have used a franchise-quarterback-sized pick, in a draft flush with potential franchise QBs, on a running back?
And even as Barkley became an immediate sensation — 2,028 yards from scrimmage as a rookie, back-to-back thousand-yard rushing seasons in his first two years, despite an ankle injury last year — and even as many of those franchise QBs have struggled to live up to their billing, there has been this gnawing concern:
What if the Giants — in full-blown, multiyear rebuilding mode — waste the peak years of Barkley’s career that combine early brilliance and moderate cost?
After Monday’s 26-16 loss to the Steelers, we can add another, new-and-improved wrinkle to the entirety of the equation: Right now, Barkley is the Giants. He is their star. He is their face. Daniel Jones is in the foxhole with him, but make no mistake: It is Barkley’s foxhole. All eyes are on him. Every ounce of attention — and scrutiny, and skepticism, and scorn — fastens to his No. 26 jersey.
So when he has a historically difficult night running the ball — 15 carries, 6 yards — the alarm bells clang. And when one of his notorious early career weaknesses — blocking in pass protection — is exploited by a defense well-schooled in feasting on such things …
Well. That’s when the air horns start to blare.
“I watch the good and learn from the bad,” Barkley said Thursday, a day after ex-Giant Tiki Barber questioned whether he could ever be a third-down back with his blocking woes, a day after — God bless 2020 — O.J. Simpson took to Twitter to passionately defend him.
“I watch myself and see where I can get better.”
If the Giants had been anything resembling a functional operation the past few years, Barkley could have worked as part of a tapestry, part of a group learning to win, learning to compete at this level. But the Giants have been a wreck across every second of Barkley’s time here. From his first game — 106 yards out of the chute against the Jaguars, Week 1, 2018 — he has been the Giants. That’s an absurd onus for any player.
But that is Barkley’s burden.
Barkley, being Barkley, understands. He gets it. He accepts it. He said he takes Barber’s barbs not as disrespect but as “a challenge.” He has remarkable perspective for someone who is not yet 24 years old.
“The game happened,” he said. “I had 15 carries for 6 yards. That’s, I guess, the second-lowest of all-time for someone with 15 carries. Guess what? I came to work with a smile on my face, ready to get better. My motivation is to be great myself. I don’t need extra motivation. I want to come in and get a W for the Giants.”
The truth is, if Barkley was the Giants’ biggest problem, then the Giants would be in a lot better shape than they are, despite the generally feel-good reviews yielded by opening night against the Steelers. But Barkley isn’t even in the Bottom 20, not even after spending most of Monday night in reverse.
Can he be a better blocker? There is no disputing that. Will he have to be creative to find and exploit holes behind an offensive line that is now in Year 3 of being a weekly comedy of calamity? Unless he wants more record-setting games like Monday’s, that’s a must.
But it should also be important to remember Barkley’s brilliant spasm of beauty Monday night, when he caught a quick pass from Jones at the Giants’ 13-yard line, saw a sliver of an opening, sped through in a blur, dashed downfield, stiff-armed Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick, then hurdled Mike Hilton. It was 38 yards of pure Saquon. Pure magic.
Plays like that don’t make Barkley bulletproof from criticism when he fails to pick up a blitzer, and they shouldn’t. But they do serve as a reminder that the one thing — quite literally, the only thing — that has made the Giants tolerable to watch the last two-plus years is knowing he could do something exactly like that any time he touches the ball.
Barkley is smart enough to know where he needs to improve. He is skilled enough to make that happen. He wants to be great. He will do the things necessary to be great. And will have to do it with every eye laser-focused to him, every game, every week, because for now and for the near future, he is one of the only things worth looking at for the team in blue. That’s his burden.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Cardi B not allowing divorce to dampen birthday plans

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 ) Cardi B isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ a damper on her birthday plans .
The “ WAP ” rapper turns 28 next @ @ @ @ @ mode .
She posted on social media that she ’ s concerned venues will be @ @ @ @ @ chill ” in Miami or the Dominican Republic .
She filed for divorce from fellow @ @ @ @ @ three years of marriage .
But on Friday , Cardi was back at work , @ @ @ @ @ for “ Me Gusta , ” a bilingual track she features on .

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Cardi B isn’t allowing her divorce to put a damper on her birthday plans.
The “WAP” rapper turns 28 next month and is in party-planning mode. She posted on social media that she’s concerned venues will be closed, but may “chill” in Miami or the Dominican Republic.
She filed for divorce from fellow rapper Offset this week after three years of marriage.
But on Friday, Cardi was back at work, promoting a new music video for “Me Gusta,” a bilingual track she features on.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Trump mourns death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg: ‘An amazing woman’

President Trump on Friday night praised the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as “ an amazing woman ” @ @ @ @ @ life.
” Trump commented on the death of the liberal icon after delivering a raucous @ @ @ @ @ where he repeatedly invoked the Supreme Court as a reason to reelect him , unaware @ @ @ @ @ .
“ She just died ?
I didn ’ t know that .
She led @ @ @ @ @ else can you say ?
Whether you agree or not … she led an amazing @ @ @ @ @ , according to a pool report .
“ She led an amazing life .
… @ @ @ @ @ , ” Trump said .

President Trump on Friday night praised the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as “an amazing woman” who “led an amazing life.”
Trump commented on the death of the liberal icon after delivering a raucous rally in northern Minnesota, where he repeatedly invoked the Supreme Court as a reason to re-elect him, unaware of Ginsburg’s death.
The jurist died at age 87 due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
“She led an amazing life, what else can you say? She was an amazing woman, whether you agreed or not. She was an amazing woman who led an amazing life. I’m actually saddened to hear that,” Trump said.
As Trump was speaking at the rally, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) issued a statement saying he would hold a vote on anyone Trump nominates to replace Ginsburg, potentially shifting the ideological balance on the court.
There would need to be 50 votes in favor of Trump’s nominee, giving Republicans an extremely thin margin. Two Republican senators — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Chuck Grassley of Iowa — have said they would not vote for a nominee before the election.
In Trump’s rally remarks, he repeatedly stressed the importance of the Supreme Court as an election issue, unaware of Ginsburg’s death.
“The next president will get one, two, three or four Supreme Court justices,” Trump said. “That will totally change when you talk about life, when you talk about the Second Amendment … You’re gonna be stuck for 40 years, 35 years.”
Trump this month unveiled a list of 44 conservatives — including four Republican senators — who he would consider for the Supreme Court.
Trump said at the rally that his candidates for the court are “unbelievable, the smartest, the best, the absolute creme de la creme, right? The best minds in the country, conservative. They believe in the Constitution. Okay? Little things.”
Intense focus immediately fell on moderate Republican senators who could scuttle a nomination if they object, particularly Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who voted to convict Trump in his impeachment trial this year, and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who is in a close reelection race.
Trump’s list of potential nominees for the court includes Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Mike Lee of Utah and Tom Cotton of Arkansas.
For years, Trump’s White House aides studiously avoided commenting on Ginsburg’s possible death during health scares, privately saying they didn’t want to appear to be “vultures” with such macabre speculation.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced Thursday night that the American flag was lowered to half-staff over the presidential mansion in honor of the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
“The flag is at half-staff here at the White House in honor of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a trailblazer for women,” McEnany tweeted.
Legal scholars immediately noted the significance of Ginsburg’s passing — both for her large number of fans, and for the balance of the court.
“Even without a closely divided Court, any replacement of Ruth Bader Ginsburg would be traumatic for millions because there is no replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg and we all know it. She is the type of personality that comes few times in history,” said George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley.
“She was one of the most consistent and clear and courageous voices in the history of the Court,” Turley said. “Her replacement by President Donald Trump could prove the most consequential and transformative nomination in the history of the modern court. An array of legal doctrine currently dangle by 5-4 majorities.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Another de Blasio parking placard abuse promise proves a total joke

You can forgive Mayor de Blasio for abandoning his supposed “ crackdown ” on parking placard abuse amid the pandemic — but it ’ s now clear that it was a joke long before then .
Back in February 2019 , he vowed to yank the permits of city employees who abused them .
Yet the City Council ’ s 311 Placard Complaints Map shows more than 7,500 hotline calls on abuse since then , with more than two-thirds of those marked as ignored .
And , as The Post revealed this week , his policy has pulled the placards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city worker , just staffers for city-linked nonprofits .
Just two municipal employees and six more “ nonprofiteers ” are at any risk — if their appeals fall through .
In short , de Blasio ’ s “ three strikes and you ’ re out ” rule proved not get-tough , but a license to keep up the same old illegal-parking games .
So it ’ s just as well the NYPD , as part of July ’ s “ defunding ” cuts , axed all 116 positions in the anti-placard unit that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in 2017 .
The mayor claims all will be fixed when the digital permit system kicks in next year .
But with no will for enforcement , what difference does it make ?
We ’ ve lost track of how many de Blasio anti-placard-abuse plans have failed ; maybe the next mayor will actually care about living up to his promises .

You can forgive Mayor de Blasio for abandoning his supposed “crackdown” on parking placard abuse amid the pandemic — but it’s now clear that it was a joke long before then.
Back in February 2019, he vowed to yank the permits of city employees who abused them. Yet the City Council’s 311 Placard Complaints Map shows more than 7,500 hotline calls on abuse since then, with more than two-thirds of those marked as ignored.
And, as The Post revealed this week, his policy has pulled the placards from only two people — neither a city worker, just staffers for city-linked nonprofits.
Just two municipal employees and six more “nonprofiteers” are at any risk — if their appeals fall through.
In short, de Blasio’s “three strikes and you’re out” rule proved not get-tough, but a license to keep up the same old illegal-parking games.
So it’s just as well the NYPD, as part of July’s “defunding” cuts, axed all 116 positions in the anti-placard unit that de Blasio ordered up with great fanfare back in 2017.
The mayor claims all will be fixed when the digital permit system kicks in next year. But with no will for enforcement, what difference does it make?
We’ve lost track of how many de Blasio anti-placard-abuse plans have failed; maybe the next mayor will actually care about living up to his promises.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Mitch McConnell says Senate will take up nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The Republican-controlled US Senate will vote on a potential successor to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg if President Trump nominates someone , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday night .
“ President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate , ” McConnell ( R-Ky. ) said in a statement responding to Ginsburg ’ s death at 87 .
The Republican Senate leader issued a statement Friday night , about an hour and a half after the Supreme Court announced the liberal justice ’ s death from complications of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Antonin Scalia died in February 2016 , also an election year , McConnell refused to act on President Barack Obama ’ s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to fill the opening .
The seat remained vacant until after Trump ’ s surprising presidential victory .
Trump ended up nominating Neil Gorsuch , who was confirmed to the court .
The 2020 election is 46 days away .
McConnell had earlier said he would move to confirm a Trump nominee if there were a vacancy this year .
In his Friday night statement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death to that which followed Scalia ’ s .
“ In the last midterm election before Justice Scalia ’ s death , Americans elected a Republican Senate majority because we pledged to check and balance the last days of a lame-duck president ’ s second term .
We kept our promise , ” he said .
“ Since the 1880s , no Senate has confirmed an opposite-party president ’ s Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year.
” McConnell added : “ By contrast , Americans reelected our majority in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda , particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary .
Once again , we will keep our promise .
”

The Republican-controlled US Senate will vote on a potential successor to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg if President Trump nominates someone, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday night.
“President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate,” McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement responding to Ginsburg’s death at 87.
McConnell issued his statement about an hour and a half after the Supreme Court announced the liberal justice’s death from complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
When conservative Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016, also an election year, McConnell refused to act on President Barack Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to fill the opening. The seat remained vacant until after Trump’s surprising presidential victory.
Trump ended up nominating Neil Gorsuch, who was confirmed to the court.
The 2020 election is 46 days away.
McConnell had earlier said he would move to confirm a Trump nominee if there were a vacancy this year.
In his Friday night statement, McConnell contrasted the situation presented by Ginsburg’s death to that which followed Scalia’s.
“In the last midterm election before Justice Scalia’s death, Americans elected a Republican Senate majority because we pledged to check and balance the last days of a lame-duck president’s second term. We kept our promise,” he said.
“Since the 1880s, no Senate has confirmed an opposite-party president’s Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year.”
McConnell added: “By contrast, Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda, particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary. Once again, we will keep our promise.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--The fight to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat before 2020 election has begun

US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday the ...

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death jolts the Supreme Court firmly to the right and sets the stage for a heated battle over her empty seat just 46 days before the presidential election.
Within two hours of the Court announcing that the Justice had died, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had tweeted that President Trump’s nominee to fill her seat “will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
And just as quickly, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted, “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.”
His tweet was word-for-word the same as McConnell used in blocking then-President Barack Obama’s nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat of Antonin Scalia, who died nine months before the 2016 presidential election.
Without Ginsburg, the Court is left with just three steadfastly liberal justices: Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
The reliably conservative justices, meanwhile, number four: Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito.
Chief Justice John Roberts, a sometimes swing voter, also leans to the right.
The Supreme Court is currently on recess — but behind the scenes, a war is already roiling.
Democrats now see filling her seat — during a hoped-for Joe Biden administration — as vital to preserving liberal landmark decisions, particularly the pro-choice protections of Roe V. Wade.
Republicans, meanwhile, see an opportunity to quickly push through what would be President Trump’s third Supreme Court justice.
In recent history, only Richard Nixon has installed three justices in a single term.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Some of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s most memorable quotes

A trailblazer for gender equality , whose defense of the rights of women and minorities made her an inspiration to many , Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg imparted several words of wisdom before her death Friday at the age of 87 .
The fierce yet diminutive Brooklyn-born jurist was never afraid to speak her mind , whether on issues she held dear , such as feminism and justice , or about life and her personal losses .
Here are some of memorable quotes that help to shape her legacy : “ My mother told me two things constantly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the other was to be independent.
” — as quoted by the ACLU .
“ The greatest menace to freedom is an inert people ; that public discussion is a political duty ; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government.
” — from her 2012 book “ My Own Words.
” “ So often in life , things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great , good fortune.
” — in a 2012 interview with MAKERS .
“ Women ’ s rights are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights agenda , trained on the equal dignity and ability to live in freedom all people should enjoy.
” — as quoted by the ACLU .

A trailblazer for gender equality, whose defense of the rights of women and minorities made her an inspiration to many, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg imparted several words of wisdom before her death Friday at the age of 87.
The fierce yet diminutive Brooklyn-born jurist was never afraid to speak her mind, whether on issues she held dear, such as feminism and justice, or about life and her views of society in general.
Here are some of memorable quotes that help to shape her legacy:
“My mother told me two things constantly. One was to be a lady, and the other was to be independent.” — as quoted by the ACLU.
“The greatest menace to freedom is an inert people; that public discussion is a political duty; and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American government.”— from her 2012 book “My Own Words.”
“So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune.” — in a 2012 interview with MAKERS.
“Generally, change in our society is incremental, I think. Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” — in the 2015 book “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg”
“Women’s rights are an essential part of the overall human rights agenda, trained on the equal dignity and ability to live in freedom all people should enjoy.” — as quoted by the ACLU.
On how she wanted to be remembered:
“Someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has.” — to MSNBC in 2015.


newyorkpost--2020-09-18--Good news: That New York pork isn’t going out the door after all

Well , that was fast : Robert Mujica , the state budget director , reached out Friday to clarify that the pork-barrel spending discussed in that morning ’ s editorial ( “ Cuomo ’ s Shameful Top Priority ” ) will not be going out the door this year after all .
More , he has instructed the Dormitory Authority , through which some of New York ’ s most egregious pork outlays flow , not to enter into contracts without explicit approval from the Division of the Budget .
The Empire Center first reported Tuesday that grants — 226 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to recipients selected by the governor and individual state lawmakers — seemed to still be going ahead .
That info was shocking , because the state has quite properly withheld $ 4 billion in non-pork funds for local governments to balance its pandemic-devastated books .
But we relayed the news without confirming with Mujica ’ s office , which had not commented publicly on the Empire release .
Now the budget director tells us that he has not given the final OK for those spending commitments , and it “ absolutely will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may disappoint the state lawmakers whose pet projects are now on hold — some of whom , like state Sen. Pete Harckham , have already announced the outlays in recent weeks .
But it ’ s at least a small win for the taxpayers and for more-deserving beneficiaries of state spending .

Well, that was fast: Robert Mujica, the state budget director, reached out Friday to clarify that the pork-barrel spending discussed in that morning’s editorial (“Cuomo’s Shameful Top Priority”) will not be going out the door this year after all.
More, he has instructed the Dormitory Authority, through which some of New York’s most egregious pork outlays flow, not to enter into contracts without explicit approval from the Division of the Budget.
The Empire Center first reported Tuesday that grants — 226 of them, totaling $46 million, to recipients selected by the governor and individual state lawmakers — seemed to still be going ahead.
That info was shocking, because the state has quite properly withheld $4 billion in non-pork funds for local governments to balance its pandemic-devastated books. But we relayed the news without confirming with Mujica’s office, which had not commented publicly on the Empire release.
Now the budget director tells us that he has not given the final OK for those spending commitments, and it “absolutely will not happen this year.”
That news may disappoint the state lawmakers whose pet projects are now on hold — some of whom, like state Sen. Pete Harckham, have already announced the outlays in recent weeks. But it’s at least a small win for the taxpayers and for more-deserving beneficiaries of state spending.