newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Lindsey Graham thinks lawmakers should ‘go big’ with next coronavirus package

Sen. Lindsey Graham thinks lawmakers should “ go big ” with the next coronavirus stimulus package — but disagrees with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s $ 2.2 trillion proposal .
“ There are some Republicans who don ’ t want to spend anymore .
I disagree , ” Graham said in a pre-recorded interview on “ Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren ” that aired Sunday .
“ I think we need more money , ” he added , “ but we don ’ t need policy provisions like the House has.
” “ The $ 2.2 trillion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandate for ballot harvesting .
What ’ s that got to do COVID ?
” Graham said .
“ And the $ 1,200 payment , which I support , doesn ’ t require a Social Security number to get it , so a lot of the money would go to illegal immigrants.
” The South Carolina Republican said there ’ s a consensus on setting up a Paycheck Protection Program to allow small businesses to get a forgivable loan .
He also noted there ’ s a lot of “ common ground ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that he while was “ willing to do some unemployment , ” he disagreed with renewing the $ 600 weekly aid that expired July 31 , arguing that “ you ’ re paying people more not to work than work.
” Pelosi on Sunday gave the White House 48 hours to reach a deal on a new relief bill — saying otherwise Congress will not be able to pass the relief before the November election .
Graham ’ s comments also came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Saturday that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill to be voted on Wednesday .
The “ skinny ” bill , which doesn ’ t include a new batch of COVID-19 relief checks , would provide funds for schools and health care , liability protections , small-business spending and enhanced unemployment insurance lower than the $ 600 weekly , according to The Washington Post .
Other Senate Republicans have expressed opposition to the hefty spending Pelosi has sought .
But McConnell has said that should Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reach a deal , “ the Senate would of course @ @ @ @

Sen. Lindsey Graham thinks lawmakers should “go big” with the next coronavirus stimulus package — but disagrees with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s $2.2 trillion proposal.
“There are some Republicans who don’t want to spend anymore. I disagree,” Graham (R-SC) said in a pre-recorded interview on “Full Court Press with Greta Van Susteren” that aired Sunday.
“I think we need more money,” he added, “but we don’t need policy provisions like the House has.”
“The $2.2 trillion coming out of the House has a mandate for ballot harvesting. What’s that got to do with COVID?” Graham said. “And the $1,200 payment, which I support, doesn’t require a Social Security number to get it, so a lot of the money would go to illegal immigrants.”
The South Carolina Republican said there’s a consensus on setting up a Paycheck Protection Program to allow small businesses to get a forgivable loan. He also noted there’s a lot of “common ground” on helping out schools.
But Graham said that while he was “willing to do some unemployment,” he disagreed with renewing the $600 weekly aid that expired July 31, arguing that “you’re paying people more not to work than work.”
Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday gave the White House 48 hours to reach a deal on a new relief bill — saying otherwise, Congress will not be able to pass the relief before the November election.
Graham’s comments also came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Saturday that he will put forward a $500 billion bill to be voted on Wednesday.
The “skinny” bill, which doesn’t include a new batch of COVID-19 relief checks, would provide funds for schools and health care, liability protections, small-business spending and enhanced unemployment insurance lower than the $600 weekly, according to the Washington Post.
Other Senate Republicans have expressed opposition to the hefty spending Pelosi has sought.
But McConnell has said that should Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reach a deal, “the Senate would of course consider it.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Treating experts like cranks and other commentary

This month , three scientists published the Great Barrington Declaration , an anti-lockdown manifesto calling for a more humane response to the novel coronavirus that would isolate and protecREUTERS/Bing Guant the vulnerable while letting everyone else return to normalcy .
Yet , The Spectator ’ s Toby Young sighs , the declaration has been the victim of a “ well-orchestrated attempt to suppress and discredit it.
” Opponents have treated it as the work of cranks , though “ the three scientists who created it ” are “ professors at Oxford , Harvard and Stanford .
And since its launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of epidemiologists and public-health scientists , including a Nobel Prize winner.
” Young advises : “ Ignore the censors and the smear merchants .
Go to gbdeclaration.org right now and sign the petition.
” Polls in Michigan , “ the site of Donald Trump ’ s most surprising victory in 2016 , ” are similar to four years ago , but “ one anomaly is the apparent closeness of the Senate race , ” reports The Week ’ s Matthew Walther .
GOP businessman John James is much closer to Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected , a fact that casts doubt on Joe Biden ’ s lead .
If Trump is to lose Michigan , “ he will not do so lagging behind a political unknown in a Senate race that virtually no one expected to be competitive.
” Of course , if the prez can hold other swing states like Florida and Arizona , he won ’ t need Michigan .
Still , “ if James ’ recent surge in polls reflects something more closely resembling the actual state of the race , Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America is a racist country is the great self-evident truth of the left and of the ruling class whose moral opinions are shaped by it , ” writes David Azerrad at The Federalist .
Yet it ’ s only “ self-evident ” in the sense that it ’ s held up as dogma , with “ the predicate ( racism ) ” treated as “ contained in the subject ( America ) ” — meaning “ American racism can not be refuted .
It is impervious to counterarguments , data , and historical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race card allows them to detract attention from their own corruption and the radical ideas they espouse .
Whatever faults they have , at least they ’ re not racists like Donald Trump , the Republicans and their base of deplorables.
” The political benefit is that “ the right is thus constrained to fight the enemy on the enemy ’ s own terms.
” Just a year ago , Joe Biden declared himself decisively against court packing , but “ the version of Biden who was once clear-eyed about the dangers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much foggier on the topic , ” worries Reason ’ s Eric Boehm .
Following President Trump ’ s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the high court , the ex-veep refused to clarify one way or another before suggesting that court-packing is a “ bad idea ” — but without refusing to rule it out .
Then , during Thursday ’ s town hall , he granted that voters deserved to know his position before Election Day without , in fact , spelling out that position .
Biden ’ s obfuscation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid alienating either side , but “ refusing to commit one way or the other is disrespectful to the people whose support Biden is seeking .
Lots of people are already voting .
This isn ’ t a new issue , and Biden should have been able to provide a clear and direct answer by now.
” In the Netherlands , warns Jonathan Van Maren in First Things , the government “ is preparing to legalize euthanasia for children between the ages of one and twelve.
” The move is popular with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider it morally OK to kill children facing terminal illness .
“ When a doctor gives a lethal injection to a suffering infant , regardless of his motivation , he is killing that child ; he and other adults have decided that child is better off dead .
We used to understand how wrong that is .
The Dutch government .
.
.
appears to have forgotten .
”

Pandemic journal: Treating Experts Like Cranks
This month, three scientists published the Great Barrington Declaration, an anti-lockdown manifesto calling for a more humane response to the novel coronavirus that would isolate and protecREUTERS/Bing Guant the vulnerable while letting everyone else return to normalcy. Yet, The Spectator’s Toby Young sighs, the declaration has been the victim of a “well-orchestrated attempt to suppress and discredit it.” Opponents have treated it as the work of cranks, though “the three scientists who created it” are “professors at Oxford, Harvard and Stanford. And since its launch, the declaration been signed by tens of thousands of epidemiologists and public-health scientists, including a Nobel Prize winner.” Young advises: “Ignore the censors and the smear merchants. Go to gbdeclaration.org right now and sign the petition.”
Election watch: Trump May Win Michigan Again
Polls in Michigan, “the site of Donald Trump’s most surprising victory in 2016,” are similar to four years ago, but “one anomaly is the apparent closeness of the Senate race,” reports The Week’s Matthew Walther. GOP businessman John James is much closer to Democratic incumbent Sen. Gary Peters in polls than expected, a fact that casts doubt on Joe Biden’s lead. If Trump is to lose Michigan, “he will not do so lagging behind a political unknown in a Senate race that virtually no one expected to be competitive.” Of course, if the prez can hold other swing states like Florida and Arizona, he won’t need Michigan. Still, “if James’ recent surge in polls reflects something more closely resembling the actual state of the race, Trump’s people need not despair.”
Conservative: Why Left Needs Racism Forever
“That America is a racist country is the great self-evident truth of the left and of the ruling class whose moral opinions are shaped by it,” writes David Azerrad at The Federalist. Yet it’s only “self-evident” in the sense that it’s held up as dogma, with “the predicate (racism)” treated as “contained in the subject (America)” — meaning “American racism cannot be refuted. It is impervious to counterarguments, data, and historical developments.” Why? “Playing the race card allows them to detract attention from their own corruption and the radical ideas they espouse. Whatever faults they have, at least they’re not racists like Donald Trump, the Republicans and their base of deplorables.” The political benefit is that “the right is thus constrained to fight the enemy on the enemy’s own terms.”
Libertarian: Biden Voters Need Clarity on Court
Just a year ago, Joe Biden declared himself decisively against court packing, but “the version of Biden who was once clear-eyed about the dangers of expanding the Supreme Court has recently become much foggier on the topic,” worries Reason’s Eric Boehm. Following President Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the high court, the ex-veep refused to clarify one way or another before suggesting that court-packing is a “bad idea” — but without refusing to rule it out. Then, during Thursday’s town hall, he granted that voters deserved to know his position before Election Day without, in fact, spelling out that position. Biden’s obfuscation is obviously a “calculated political maneuver” to avoid alienating either side, but “refusing to commit one way or the other is disrespectful to the people whose support Biden is seeking. Lots of people are already voting. This isn’t a new issue, and Biden should have been able to provide a clear and direct answer by now.”
Foreign desk: Holland’s Child-Euthanasia Horror
In the Netherlands, warns Jonathan Van Maren in First Things, the government “is preparing to legalize euthanasia for children between the ages of one and twelve.” The move is popular with physicians and parents, many of whom consider it morally OK to kill children facing terminal illness. “When a doctor gives a lethal injection to a suffering infant, regardless of his motivation, he is killing that child; he and other adults have decided that child is better off dead. We used to understand how wrong that is. The Dutch government . . . appears to have forgotten.”
— Compiled by Sohrab Ahmari & Ashley Allen


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Andrew Cuomo’s ‘Leadership’ is a pack of lies

Gov .
Cuomo ’ s “ American Crisis : Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic ” may be the most dishonest political memoir ever .
The reality : Cuomo denied the threat ’ s seriousness longer than President Trump .
And when he woke up , he panicked — with deadly consequences for New York ’ s seniors .
Now he ’ s locked into lockdown extremism , admitting that his “ leadership ” is based not on science , but fear .
For weeks after announcing the state ’ s first COVID-19 case March 1 , Cuomo on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worry .
On March 4 , for example : “ We have an epidemic caused by coronavirus but we have a pandemic that is caused by fear.
” March 9 : “ This hysteria that you see , this fear that you see , the panic that you see is unwarranted .
We have dealt with worse viruses.
” As late as March 19 , Cuomo claimed : “ We are fighting the virus and we are fighting fear .
.
.
.
In many ways , the fear is more dangerous than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he shut New York down .
As The Blaze host Stu Burguiere notes in a long “ tweetstorm , ” that was four days after Trump launched his 15 Days to Slow the Spread : “ Cuomo regularly criticizes the President for acting too slow .
He was slower.
” And then Team Cuomo panicked .
On March 25 , it issued the now-infamous edict forcing nursing homes to take in COVID-positive patients — and not to even test admissions or readmissions for the virus .
Thousands of seniors died as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making it all up .
“ On April 25 , conservative columnist Michael Goodwin published a piece in Rupert Murdoch ’ s New York Post aimed at New York with the headline , ‘ State lacked common sense in nursing homes ’ coronavirus approach , ’ ” he writes .
“ It was an orchestrated strategy and a Fox News drumbeat.
” The state admits it sent 6,300-plus recovering COVID patients to nursing homes .
Nearly 60 homes had not a single case before those infected patients arrived .
The Society for Post-Acute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as March 29 that his order would be fatal .
But Cuomo didn ’ t revoke it until May .
His approach now ?
“ This is not a highly nuanced , sophisticated response .
This is a fear-driven response .
You know , this is not a policy being written by a scalpel .
This is a policy being cut by a hatchet , ” he told Jewish leaders in a call this month .
This is the man whose new book boasts of his “ leadership .
”

Gov. Cuomo’s “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic” may be the most dishonest political memoir ever.
The reality: Cuomo denied the threat’s seriousness longer than President Trump. And when he woke up, he panicked — with deadly consequences for New York’s seniors. Now he’s locked into lockdown extremism, admitting that his “leadership” is based not on science, but fear.
For weeks after announcing the state’s first COVID-19 case March 1, Cuomo on a daily basis told New Yorkers not to worry. On March 4, for example: “We have an epidemic caused by coronavirus but we have a pandemic that is caused by fear.” March 9: “This hysteria that you see, this fear that you see, the panic that you see is unwarranted. We have dealt with worse viruses.”
As late as March 19, Cuomo claimed: “We are fighting the virus and we are fighting fear. . . . In many ways, the fear is more dangerous than the virus.” The next day, he shut New York down.
As The Blaze host Stu Burguiere notes in a long “tweetstorm,” that was four days after Trump launched his 15 Days to Slow the Spread: “Cuomo regularly criticizes the President for acting too slow. He was slower.”
And then Team Cuomo panicked. On March 25, it issued the now-infamous edict forcing nursing homes to take in COVID-positive patients — and not to even test admissions or readmissions for the virus.
Thousands of seniors died as a result. But Cuomo insists his critics are making it all up. “On April 25, conservative columnist Michael Goodwin published a piece in Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post aimed at New York with the headline, ‘State lacked common sense in nursing homes’ coronavirus approach,’ ” he writes. “It was an orchestrated strategy and a Fox News drumbeat.”
The state admits it sent 6,300-plus recovering COVID patients to nursing homes. Nearly 60 homes had not a single case before those infected patients arrived.
The Society for Post-Acute & Long-Term Care Medicine warned as early as March 29 that his order would be fatal. But Cuomo didn’t revoke it until May.
His approach now? “This is not a highly nuanced, sophisticated response. This is a fear-driven response. You know, this is not a policy being written by a scalpel. This is a policy being cut by a hatchet,” he told Jewish leaders in a call this month.
This is the man whose new book boasts of his “leadership.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Joe Douglas looks miserable watching Jets get destroyed

These Jets are hard to watch — just ask Joe Douglas .
The second-year general manager was spotted by the @ @ @ @ @ in his hands Sunday after quarterback Joe Flacco was sacked by the Dolphins in the @ @ @ @ @ loss , which pushed the Jets to 0-6 for the second time in franchise history @ @ @ @ @ , who lost eight straight before picking up their only victory of the season , @ @ @ @ @ these Jets beating anyone , especially with the Bills , Chiefs and Patriots on deck @ @ @ @ @ only winless team after six weeks , as the Giants and Falcons both won their @ @ @ @ @ two other teams in NFL history have gone 0-16 : the 2008 Lions and 2017 @ @ @ @ @ were to join them , they likely would have the chance to draft highly coveted @ @ @ @ @ Clemson with the No .
1 pick .

These Jets are hard to watch — just ask Joe Douglas.
The second-year general manager was spotted by the CBS broadcast burying his face in his hands Sunday after quarterback Joe Flacco was sacked by the Dolphins in the third quarter of a 24-0 loss, which pushed the Jets to 0-6 for the second time in franchise history.
Unlike the 1996 Jets, who lost eight straight before picking up their only victory of the season, it is difficult to imagine these Jets beating anyone, especially with the Bills, Chiefs and Patriots on deck.
The Jets remained the only winless team after six weeks, as the Giants and Falcons both won their games on Sunday.
Only two other teams in NFL history have gone 0-16: the 2008 Lions and 2017 Browns.
If the Jets were to join them, they likely would have the chance to draft highly coveted quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of Clemson with the No. 1 pick.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Utah man who coughed on BLM protesters apologizes — sort of

The Utah man caught on viral video coughing on Black Lives Matter protesters says he apologizes to everyone but the victim after he lost his job and started getting death threats for the stunt .
Robert Brissette , 42 , told The Post Sunday that the BLM group “ goaded ” him into lashing out , throwing rocks at his pickup truck to get things rolling .
“ The action was screwed up on my part , ” Brissette said .
“ I should never have done that , and that part I apologize for .
But to the person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not apologize to .
I apologize to the general public for being a dumb s—t doing that .
But the person I did it at deserved it.
” “ I only made the sound , ” he claimed .
“ I didn ’ t spit on them or anything .
I fake-coughed .
It was a fake.
” Brissett was pumping gas at a Kanab , Utah , gas station when he says the protesters began hurling stones .
He said he and others at the station had laughed when another truck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the term for a vehicle spewing out a thick , black cloud of exhaust smoke to taunt someone .
Brissette said that ’ s when the insults and stones began flying .
He claims he came face-to-face with the protesters twice , first coughing 11 times and the second time knocking a cap off the head of the protest ’ s organizer after he said she slapped him three times in the face .
The video doesn ’ t capture that part of the exchange .
Kanab police did not respond to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they opted not to charge him in the incident .
He ’ d previously begun raising money for legal defense on a crowd-funding website , but said Sunday he took the page down when he was not charged with any crimes .
Nonetheless , he said he ’ s now had to disable all his social media accounts and get a new phone because of the avalanche of threats .

The Utah man caught on viral video coughing on Black Lives Matter protesters says he apologizes to everyone but the victim after he lost his job and started getting death threats for the stunt.
Robert Brissette, 42, told The Post Sunday that the BLM group “goaded” him into lashing out, throwing rocks at his pickup truck to get things rolling.
“The action was screwed up on my part,” Brissette said. “I should never have done that, and that part I apologize for. But to the person that I did it at, I do not apologize to. I apologize to the general public for being a dumb s—t doing that. But the person I did it at deserved it.”
“I only made the sound,” he claimed. “I didn’t spit on them or anything. I fake-coughed. It was a fake.”
Brissett was pumping gas at a Kanab, Utah, gas station when he says the protesters began hurling stones.
He said he and others at the station had laughed when another truck “rolled coal” the protesters — the term for a vehicle spewing out a thick, black cloud of exhaust smoke to taunt someone.
Brissette said that’s when the insults and stones began flying.
He claims he came face-to-face with the protesters twice, first coughing 11 times and the second time knocking a cap off the head of the protest’s organizer after he said she slapped him three times in the face.
The video doesn’t capture that part of the exchange.
Kanab police did not respond to a request for comment, but Brissette said they opted not to charge him in the incident. He’d previously begun raising money for legal defense on a crowd-funding website, but said Sunday he took the page down when he was not charged with any crimes.
Nonetheless, he said he’s now had to disable all his social media accounts and get a new phone because of the avalanche of threats.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Rays ‘making a name for themselves’ without Yankees-like star power

The Alex Rodriguez of baseball teams ended a season , and ...

The Rays beat the Yankees in eight of their 10 meetings during the regular season, knocked them off in five games in the ALDS and are now on their way to the World Series, while the Yankees are over a week into their offseason.
And they’ve done it with a typically small payroll and very little — if any — star power.
“We’re not a team that is built with superstar after superstar,’’ manager Kevin Cash said after Tampa Bay beat the Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS Saturday night. “We’re a team that maximizes opportunities and tries to get matchups to help us win games. And we did that really well this year.”
They’ve done that really well each of the last three seasons — and especially the last two.
This year— with numbers somewhat skewed because of the abbreviated season — they had a total payroll of $28 million, according to Spotrac.com, third-lowest in the majors.
The Yankees, meanwhile, paid out $109 million in prorated salaries and other expenses.
“I don’t think it’s a payroll comparison in any way, shape or form,’’ Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday. “They’re forced to operate a certain way because of the market they are in, and we are permitted to operate in a different way because of the market we’re in, and both ways can have success.’’
Through draft picks and shrewd trades — and the very occasional dip into the mid-range of free agency — the Rays have built a roster that Cashman compared to a Swiss Army knife, while Houston manager Dusty Baker said, “They’ve got the same amount of men [on the roster], but it seems like they’ve got more men than you because they’ve got a lot of interchangeable parts and are used to using them.”
And now, the Rays will show off that roster in the World Series, although TV executives no doubt would rather have had the high-powered Yankees or even the loathed Astros advance to provide more storylines and better ratings.
The Rays, though, aren’t apologizing.
“I always say we don’t have a lot of household names,’’ Kevin Kiermaier said on TBS following the Game 7 win. “But at the same time, people are making a name for themselves right now, and if they don’t know, we’ve got some guys who can play.”
Randy Arozarena emerged as a force, hitting seven homers in 76 plate appearances after a late-August call-up and then hitting seven more home runs in the playoffs on the way to ALCS MVP honors.
Manuel Margot, Mike Zunino and Ji-Man Choi delivered big hits, while nearly the entire roster wowed on defense.
And while Diego Castillo struggled in Game 6, the bullpen was excellent in support of the rotation.
Asked if he wondered how good the Rays might be without such a small payroll, Kiermaier said he’d rather keep it the way it is now.
“I know what we’re working with,’’ Kiermaier said. “I understand the logistics and business-side of everything and the budget in general. It doesn’t bother me one bit that we’re not big spenders. I enjoy it. … We’re not the most popular team out there, but if you do all the little things right consistently, great things can happen, and we’ve that this year.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Giants punish Andrew Thomas for violation of team policy

Grading the Giants following their 20-19 win over Washington on ...

Giants struggling rookie Andrew Thomas wasn’t benched for his performance.
At least not the first time.
Rookie third-round pick Matt Peart started over the coveted first-rounder Thomas at left tackle and was on the field for two of the offense’s three scoring drives Sunday in the Giants’ 20-19 win against the Washington Football Team.
“This was not performance-based at all,” coach Joe Judge said. “I’m not going to go too far into detail. Andrew violated a team policy. There was nothing disobedient, disrespectful or malicious about what he did, but he made a mistake and there are consequences for mistakes. We have to make sure we handle that the right way.”
Thomas issued a statement through the Giants public relations staff after the game: “I was late for our meeting [Saturday] night. Coach Judge always talks about actions have consequences, and I take responsibility for my actions and the consequences. It won’t happen again.”
Judge is a stickler for accountability and has been compared to former Giants coach Tom Coughlin, whose team meetings started five minutes early so being on time meant being late.
Thomas entered the game early in the second quarter but was removed for Peart in the third after he missed a block on a third-and-1 that caused running back Devonta Freeman to take a loss and forced a punt. That decision certainly seemed performance-based for Thomas, who allowed the most pass pressures (28) of any lineman in the NFL through the first five games.
“I thought Andrew did a really good job of accepting it, staying ready, performing when he got in the game,” Judge said. “I’m proud of how Andrew responded; very mature about it.”
Peart made his debut at right tackle two weeks ago when he spelled right tackle Cam Fleming for a series. At the time, Judge said the plan is to rotate Peart in to gain experience, and he made it clear that Thomas’ draft pedigree and $32 million contract will not prevent him from heading to the bench — no matter the optics attached.
Peart played 26 snaps to Thomas’ 22, according to Pro Football Focus.
“We always preach being ready to play, and Matt’s number was called and he was ready to go early and right away,” Judge said. “Both guys fought and played well when they were in the game.”
Quarterback Daniel Jones was left without his trusted blind-side protection — he was sacked just once — and put in a position as a first-time co-captain to address his teammate’s mistake.
“I think that’s something he will learn from,” Jones said. “As teammates, we support him. He’s a mature guy who can step up. I have all the confidence in the world in him.”
Judge did not specify whether the rotation will continue or if Thomas will regain his starting position Thursday against the Eagles.
“Matt is a guy who has a great approach to the game and to his work,” Jones said. “He certainly has a lot of talent, too. He played big for us today.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--Orthodox rabbi who urged Brooklyn residents to respect lockdown dies of COVID-19

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
A Hasidic leader who urged Brooklyn ’ s Orthodox community to abide by coronavirus safety measures has died of the contagion .
“ It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we report on the passing of Satmar President and Mega Philanthropist R ’ Mayer Zelig Rispler OBM who passed away during the night , ” the Satmar Hasidic sect tweeted Friday .
A funeral for the 70-year-old rabbi was held in Williamsburg that day , the Times of Israel said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ courageous and dedicated leader who will be missed by the worldwide Satmar Community , ” the sect tweeted , confirming his death was from COVID-19 .
Rispler had spoken out in April to urge the Orthodox community to adhere to safety measures enforced by city officials after videos went viral of huge crowds gathering for funerals .
“ We do not condone any behavior that puts people at risk and pledge to keep working alongside the brave men and women of the NYPD in addressing and eliminating any such occurrences , ” Rispler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel report at the time .
Rispler — who was also an accountant — fell ill in September , and on Wednesday the Satmar Headquarters account called for prayers , confirming he was in “ critical condition.
” Brooklyn Councilman Kalman Yeger tweeted his condolences , writing that he was “ incredibly saddened ” by the death .
“ His kindness and generosity were legendary , ” he wrote .
“ I ’ m grateful for the friendship and chizuk he always gave me and everyone who knew him .
”

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
A Hasidic leader who urged Brooklyn’s Orthodox community to abide by coronavirus safety measures has died of the contagion.
“It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we report on the passing of Satmar President and Mega Philanthropist R’Mayer Zelig Rispler OBM who passed away during the night,” the Satmar Hasidic sect tweeted Friday.
A funeral for the 70-year-old rabbi was held in Williamsburg that day, the Times of Israel said.
“R’Mayer Zelig was a courageous and dedicated leader who will be missed by the worldwide Satmar Community,” the sect tweeted, confirming his death was from COVID-19.
Rispler had spoken out in April to urge the Orthodox community to adhere to safety measures enforced by city officials after videos went viral of huge crowds gathering for funerals.
“We do not condone any behavior that puts people at risk and pledge to keep working alongside the brave men and women of the NYPD in addressing and eliminating any such occurrences,” Rispler wrote, according to a Times of Israel report at the time.
Rispler — who was also an accountant — fell ill in September, and on Wednesday the Satmar Headquarters account called for prayers, confirming he was in “critical condition.”
Brooklyn Councilman Kalman Yeger tweeted his condolences, writing that he was “incredibly saddened” by the death.
“His kindness and generosity were legendary,” he wrote. “I’m grateful for the friendship and chizuk he always gave me and everyone who knew him.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--AMC offers $99 private screenings in bid to draw back moviegoers

AMC Theaters is going to great lengths to get patrons through its doors .
The world ’ s largest theater chain announced a package this weekend which will allow a group of as many as 20 people to arrange for a private screening .
The offer will let parties rent out a theater for as little as $ 99 , and features a selection of 17 films including “ Jurassic Park ” and holiday favorite “ The Nightmare Before Christmas.
” Christopher Nolan ’ s blockbuster “ Tenet ” is also available for a screening , but is significantly more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including food and drink and control over the theater ’ s PA system , will jack up the price tag as well .
The coronavirus pandemic has pummeled the theater industry since March , and AMC said last week that its “ existing cash resources would be largely depleted by the end of 2020 or early 2021 ” if current trends continue .
Warner Bros. recently delayed “ The Batman , ” starring Robert Pattinson from Oct. 1 , 2021 , to March 4 , 2022 , while MGM has delayed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Time to Die , ” starring Daniel Craig until April 2 from Nov. 12 .
Disney , meanwhile , has pushed back its blockbuster flick , “ Black Widow , ” starring Scarlett Johansson , from Nov. 6 to May 2021 , leaving the second half of 2020 without any big-budget movies and moviegoers without many reasons to hit the cinema .

AMC Theaters is going to great lengths to get patrons through its doors.
The world’s largest theater chain announced a package this weekend which will allow a group of as many as 20 people to arrange for a private screening.
The offer will let parties rent out a theater for as little as $99, and features a selection of 17 films including “Jurassic Park” and holiday favorite “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster “Tenet” is also available for a screening, but is significantly more expensive at $349. Other add-ons, including food and drink and control over the theater’s PA system, will jack up the price tag as well.
The coronavirus pandemic has pummeled the theater industry since March, and AMC said last week that its “existing cash resources would be largely depleted by the end of 2020 or early 2021” if current trends continue.
Warner Bros. recently delayed “The Batman,” starring Robert Pattinson from Oct. 1, 2021, to March 4, 2022, while MGM has delayed the upcoming James Bond flick: “No Time to Die,” starring Daniel Craig until April 2 from Nov. 12.


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--‘Marriage Story’ Is A Halloween Movie

‘Marriage Story’ Is A Halloween Movie

Normal brain : Die Hard is a Christmas movie .
Expanding brain : Spider-Man ( 2002 ) is a Thanksgiving movie .
Galaxy brain : Marriage Story is a Halloween movie .
That ’ s right , I said it .
The best Halloween movie on Netflix is Noah Baumbach ’ s 2019 Oscar-winning drama about divorce , Marriage Story , starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson .
Does Marriage Story have horror elements ?
Not really .
Does Marriage Story have magical elements ?
None whatsoever .
Does Marriage Story have ghosts ?
Only the ghosts of relationships past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unequivocally a Halloween movie .
Change my mind .
Though Marriage Story is decidedly not a horror movie ( unless you ’ ve been through a divorce , in which case , maybe it is ) a significant portion of the film does take place on Halloween—two of them , in fact .
The first Halloween comes at the beginning of the film when Driver and Johansson ’ s characters , Charlie and Nicole , are in the process of getting divorced .
The second Halloween comes at the end of the film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In both cases , the holiday represents who has power in their relationship with their son .
In the first , Charlie is trying to force his son Henry ( Azhy Robertson ) to devote as much time to him as he gave to his mom .
In the second , Charlie realizes he has to go along with Nicole if he wants to be a part of his son ’ s life—especially the trick-or-treating part of it .
In other words : Halloween is a big freakin ’ deal in Marriage Story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Halloween movie .
If you ’ ve seen the movie , you know I ’ m right .
And if you haven ’ t seen the movie , I have proof .
Allow me to expand with visual aids .
Exhibit A : This epic drag of trick-or-treating in Los Angeles .
No one should be trick-or-treating in the year God forsook us , 2020 .
But apparently , when it ’ s not a pandemic , people in LA trick-or-treat by car ?
Meaning they have to deal with parking on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not .
Exhibit D : This universal move for “ the end of a successful Halloween.
” Later , when Henry dumps out his pumpkin full of the candy he got on his second trick-or-treating run with Dad , only a few pieces of candy fall out .
Ouch .
This is not inherently Halloween-themed , per se , but it ’ s definitely a spooky vibe .
( If you ’ re curious , the cups are from Mud Truck , as spotted by Decider Managing Editor Alex Zalben . )
Exhibit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world ’ s saddest ghost while the rest of his family is dressed up as Sgt .
Pepper .
This moment is particularly sad for Charlie , because at the beginning of the film , his son backed out of the father-son group costume he ’ d had planned to be Frankenstein and the Invisible Man .
The symbolism… the spookiness… it is simply off the charts .
Adam Sandler who ?
!

Normal brain: Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Expanding brain: Spider-Man (2002) is a Thanksgiving movie. Galaxy brain: Marriage Story is a Halloween movie.
That’s right, I said it. The best Halloween movie on Netflix is Noah Baumbach’s 2019 Oscar-winning drama about divorce, Marriage Story, starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson.
Does Marriage Story have horror elements? Not really. Does Marriage Story have magical elements? None whatsoever. Does Marriage Story have ghosts? Only the ghosts of relationships past. And yet, Marriage Story is unequivocally a Halloween movie. Change my mind.
Though Marriage Story is decidedly not a horror movie (unless you’ve been through a divorce, in which case, maybe it is) a significant portion of the film does take place on Halloween—two of them, in fact. The first Halloween comes at the beginning of the film when Driver and Johansson’s characters, Charlie and Nicole, are in the process of getting divorced. The second Halloween comes at the end of the film, when the divorce is finalized. In both cases, the holiday represents who has power in their relationship with their son. In the first, Charlie is trying to force his son Henry (Azhy Robertson) to devote as much time to him as he gave to his mom. In the second, Charlie realizes he has to go along with Nicole if he wants to be a part of his son’s life—especially the trick-or-treating part of it.
In other words: Halloween is a big freakin’ deal in Marriage Story. Ergo, Marriage Story is a Halloween movie. If you’ve seen the movie, you know I’m right. And if you haven’t seen the movie, I have proof. Allow me to expand with visual aids.
Exhibit A: This epic drag of trick-or-treating in Los Angeles.
No one should be trick-or-treating in the year God forsook us, 2020. But apparently, when it’s not a pandemic, people in LA trick-or-treat by car? Meaning they have to deal with parking on the spookiest day of the year? Absolutely not.
Exhibit B: Adam Driver’s Invisible Man costume.
Exhibit C: Scarlett Johansson’s David Bowie costume.
Exhibit D: This universal move for “the end of a successful Halloween.”
Later, when Henry dumps out his pumpkin full of the candy he got on his second trick-or-treating run with Dad, only a few pieces of candy fall out. Ouch.
Exhibit E: Adam Driver carrying coffee in orange cups.
This is not inherently Halloween-themed, per se, but it’s definitely a spooky vibe. (If you’re curious, the cups are from Mud Truck, as spotted by Decider Managing Editor Alex Zalben.)
Exhibit F: Adam Driver dressed up as the world’s saddest ghost while the rest of his family is dressed up as Sgt. Pepper.
This moment is particularly sad for Charlie, because at the beginning of the film, his son backed out of the father-son group costume he’d had planned to be Frankenstein and the Invisible Man. The symbolism… the spookiness… it is simply off the charts. Adam Sandler who?!
Marriage Story is a Halloween movie. I rest my case.
Watch Marriage Story on Netflix


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--Twitter blocks post from White House science adviser Scott Atlas

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Twitter blocked a post from top White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas on Sunday that questioned the use of masks as a means of curbing the spread of the illness .
Atlas , who joined the White House in August , wrote , “ Masks work ?
NO , ” while adding that the widespread use of face coverings is not supported by evidence .
“ Masks work ?
NO : LA , Miami , Hawaii , Alabama , France , Phlippines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : widesprd use not supported ’ + many harms ; Heneghan/Oxf CEBM : ‘ despite decades , considerble uncertainty re value ’ ; CDC rvw May : ’ no sig red ’ n in inflnz transm ’ n ’ ; learn why , ” the top doctor wrote .
A spokesperson for the social media company told the Associated Press that the tweet violated its policy of sharing false or misleading information about the coronavirus that could lead to harm .
Atlas , the former chief of neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to censorship .
“ I don ’ t understand why the tweets were deleted , ” Atlas said in an email to the wire service .
He said his post meant to show that “ general population masks and mask mandates do not work ” and pointed out that they should be used when people can not socially distance .
Despite mask mandates , coronavirus cases exploded in Los Angeles County , Miami-Dade County , Hawaii , Alabama , the Philippines and Japan .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores , pharmacies , where social distancing is difficult because infected people who do not show symptoms of the disease can still be contagious .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Twitter blocked a post from top White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas on Sunday that questioned the use of masks as a means of curbing the spread of the illness.
Atlas, who joined the White House in August, wrote, “Masks work? NO,” while adding that the widespread use of face coverings is not supported by evidence.
“Masks work? NO: LA, Miami, Hawaii, Alabama, France, Phlippines, UK, Spain, Israel. WHO: widesprd use not supported’ + many harms; Heneghan/Oxf CEBM: ‘despite decades, considerble uncertainty re value’; CDC rvw May:’no sig red’n in inflnz transm’n’; learn why,” the top doctor wrote.
A spokesperson for the social media company told the Associated Press that the tweet violated its policy of sharing false or misleading information about the coronavirus that could lead to harm.
Atlas, the former chief of neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical Center, said Twitter’s action amounted to censorship.
“I don’t understand why the tweets were deleted,” Atlas said in an email to the wire service.
He said his post was meant to show that “general population masks and mask mandates do not work” and pointed out that they should be used when people cannot socially distance.
Despite mask mandates, coronavirus cases exploded in Los Angeles County, Miami-Dade County, Hawaii, Alabama, the Philippines and Japan.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people wear masks in public settings where social distancing is difficult, like grocery stores and pharmacies, because infected people who do not show symptoms of the disease can still be contagious.


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--Pakistan lifts TikTok ban after pledge to clean up ‘immoral’ content

TikTok is up and running once again in Pakistan 10 days after it was banned following a failure to filter out “ immoral and indecent ” content .
The popular social media app was given a second chance after it pledged to enforce the rules set forth by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority ( PTA ) .
“ TikTok has agreed to moderate accounts in accordance with local laws , ” a spokesman for the regulatory body said , noting that the app had some 20 million monthly active users in the country .
TikTok was the third most-downloaded app in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind WhatsApp and Facebook , according to analytics firm SensorTower .
The PTA had previously said that its TikTok ban would be in effect until the company introduced a mechanism that would moderate unlawful content , adding that it has received “ complaints from different segments of the society against immoral and indecent content on the video-sharing application.
” TikTok is currently working to avoid a ban in the United States , with the Trump administration accusing the app of siphoning up user data for China ’ s authoritarian regime .
TikTok has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to China and that it would not do so if asked , saying in a statement that it has “ no higher priority than promoting a safe app experience that protects our users ’ privacy .
”

TikTok is up and running once again in Pakistan 10 days after it was banned following a failure to filter out “immoral and indecent” content.
The popular social media app was given a second chance after it pledged to enforce the rules set forth by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
“TikTok has agreed to moderate accounts in accordance with local laws,” a spokesman for the regulatory body said, noting that the app had some 20 million monthly active users in the country.
TikTok was the third most-downloaded app in Pakistan over the past 12 months, behind WhatsApp and Facebook, according to analytics firm SensorTower.
The PTA had previously said that its TikTok ban would be in effect until the company introduced a mechanism that would moderate unlawful content, adding that it has received “complaints from different segments of the society against immoral and indecent content on the video-sharing application.”
TikTok is currently working to avoid a ban in the United States, with the Trump administration accusing the app of siphoning up user data for China’s authoritarian regime.
TikTok has said it has never provided user data to China and that it would not do so if asked, saying in a statement that it has “no higher priority than promoting a safe app experience that protects our users’ privacy.”
With Post Wires


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--New York’s era of fine fashion is gone

New York’s era of fine fashion is gone

Designers may come , designers may go but who knows when they come back .
550 Seventh , built 1925 , 23 floors , was fashion ’ s holy grail .
When we wore stockings with seams — or back when we just wore stockings — that was the shmatta trade ’ s Versailles .
You ’ d see Streisands , Lizas , Hillarys .
Seven elevators could clang a door shut and whisk its one one-namer up to a fitting .
Ralph Lauren had 12 floors .
Donna Karan seven floors .
Karl Lagerfeld , top floor .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oscar de la Renta , Badgley Mischka , Lilly Pulitzer , Carolyne Roehm , Geoffrey Beene , Jill Stuart , Claire McCardell , Adele Simpson , Norman Norell .
Now , not .
It ’ s T-shirts with logos made in Pakistan worn by stars long enough to post naked selfies .
Seventh and 39th is emptying .
No more limos .
Now bicycles .
Ralph Lauren ’ s 5,000-ply cashmeres — gone .
His 12 floors — kaput .
One memory : First Lady Imelda Marcos wanted Trigère couture — but wholesale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
She ’ d lunch in my home , and her menu was gin .
So she allowed us to stand in her salon after hours .
To try on .
To get fitted .
In our underwear .
Imelda took 10 outfits .
Payment , after a reminder , came three weeks later , I delivered it in an envelope .
Stars may come and go , but G. Clooney goes on forever .
He ’ ll direct and produce a movie of John Grisham ’ s book “ Calico Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world of baseball .
.
.
Next for Joaquin Phoenix is “ Kitbag ” about Napoleon ’ s rise to power and his love , Josephine .
After completing “ Gucci ” with Gaga , De Niro and Pacino , Ridley Scott directs .
Gaga will play Patrizia Reggiani , ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci who was convicted of orchestrating his murder in 1995 .
All films about all guys who all passed on .
What next ?
A Mussolini musical ?
A biopic about Sammy Davis Jr. is based on daughter Tracey ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his later years , determination to overcome racism , and attempt to rejuice his earlier stardom .
Two other Sammy projects are also in the works .
Black stars matter .
Dare we look up No NYC theaters show movies .
No Oscars award movies until the end of April .
Only Andrew Saffir screening them in the Hamptons does movies .
But movie stars film movies .
Like Streep , DiCaprio , Chalamet , Jonah Hill , Cate Blanchett , Jennifer Lawrence doing Adam McKay ’ s newie “ Don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disbelieving world about an asteroid set to strike Earth in six months .
.
.
Plus comes a TV series , “ Grease : Rise of the Pink Ladies , ” about the principal characters before their senior year , which is when “ Grease ” is set .
Also taking shape is its prequel “ Summer Lovin ’ .
’ ’ Assorted bits : Ewan McGregor once thought he resembled Elvis Presley .
.
.
Travolta ’ s opinion was terrorist attacks could turn people to Scientology .
.
.
Stallone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one go at Banana Republic .
.
.
Sean Connery took dancing lessons for 12 years .
.
.
Rachel Weisz spoke only German as a child .
.
.
David Schwimmer debuted in a Jewish version of “ Cinderella ” playing the fairy godmother .
.
.
And Megan Mullally said : “ I won ’ t get on an airplane unless it ’ s an absolute necessity.
” Covid got trick-or-treating banned in Beverly Hills .
Nothing Halloweenish can go on there .
No handing goodies , no distributing treats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not off a car — no “ trunk-or-treating.
” No nothing .
Zippo .
Not allowed !
Banned .
No candy .
No treats .
Come the 31st , not even hookers can get it on in Hollywood .
With nobody to see , no place to go and nothing to do I finally taught Jellybean , my baby Yorky , manners .
I just got him paper trained .
Unfortunately , he ’ s now doing it while I ’ m still reading it .
Only in New York , kids , @ @ @ @ @

Designers may come, designers may go but who knows when they come back. 550 Seventh, built 1925, 23 floors, was fashion’s holy grail. When we wore stockings with seams — or back when we just wore stockings — that was the shmatta trade’s Versailles.
You’d see Streisands, Lizas, Hillarys. Seven elevators could clang a door shut and whisk its one one-namer up to a fitting. Ralph Lauren had 12 floors. Donna Karan seven floors. Karl Lagerfeld, top floor. In it was Bill Blass, Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Badgley Mischka, Lilly Pulitzer, Carolyne Roehm, Geoffrey Beene, Jill Stuart, Claire McCardell, Adele Simpson, Norman Norell.
Now, not. It’s T-shirts with logos made in Pakistan worn by stars long enough to post naked selfies. Seventh and 39th is emptying. No more limos. Now bicycles. Ralph Lauren’s 5,000-ply cashmeres — gone. His 12 floors — kaput.
One memory: First Lady Imelda Marcos wanted Trigère couture — but wholesale. Octogenarian goddess Pauline Trigère I knew well. She’d lunch in my home, and her menu was gin. So she allowed us to stand in her salon after hours. To try on. To get fitted. In our underwear. Imelda took 10 outfits. Payment, after a reminder, came three weeks later, I delivered it in an envelope.
Seeing dead people
Stars may come and go, but G. Clooney goes on forever. He’ll direct and produce a movie of John Grisham’s book “Calico Joe” about fathers and sons in the world of baseball . . . Next for Joaquin Phoenix is “Kitbag” about Napoleon’s rise to power and his love, Josephine. After completing “Gucci” with Gaga, De Niro and Pacino, Ridley Scott directs. Gaga will play Patrizia Reggiani, ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci who was convicted of orchestrating his murder in 1995. All films about all guys who all passed on. What next? A Mussolini musical?
A biopic about Sammy Davis Jr. is based on daughter Tracey’s book. It’s about his later years, determination to overcome racism, and attempt to rejuice his earlier stardom. Two other Sammy projects are also in the works. Black stars matter.
Dare we look up
No NYC theaters show movies. No Oscars award movies until the end of April. Only Andrew Saffir screening them in the Hamptons does movies. But movie stars film movies. Like Streep, DiCaprio, Chalamet, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence doing Adam McKay’s newie “Don’t Look Up,” about scientists warning a disbelieving world about an asteroid set to strike Earth in six months . . . Plus comes a TV series, “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies,” about the principal characters before their senior year, which is when “Grease” is set. Also taking shape is its prequel “Summer Lovin’.’’
What I’m hearing
Assorted bits: Ewan McGregor once thought he resembled Elvis Presley . . . Travolta’s opinion was terrorist attacks could turn people to Scientology . . . Stallone bought $1,000 worth of boxer shorts in one go at Banana Republic . . . Sean Connery took dancing lessons for 12 years . . . Rachel Weisz spoke only German as a child . . . David Schwimmer debuted in a Jewish version of “Cinderella” playing the fairy godmother . . . And Megan Mullally said: “I won’t get on an airplane unless it’s an absolute necessity.”
Skip Halloween
Covid got trick-or-treating banned in Beverly Hills. Nothing Halloweenish can go on there. No handing goodies, no distributing treats — not through a front door, not off a car — no “trunk-or-treating.” No nothing. Zippo. Not allowed! Banned. No candy. No treats. Come the 31st, not even hookers can get it on in Hollywood.
With nobody to see, no place to go and nothing to do I finally taught Jellybean, my baby Yorky, manners. I just got him paper trained.
Unfortunately, he’s now doing it while I’m still reading it.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--Global confirmed COVID-19 cases surpass 40 million

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the globe exceeded 40 million Monday morning , according to the latest data — although far more people are believed to have been infected .
Johns Hopkins University , which collates COVID-19 reports from around the world , has recorded 40,076,184 confirmed cases of the virus .
The actual worldwide number , however , is believed to be much higher as testing has been variable , many have been asymptomatic and some governments have concealed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 1.1 million confirmed virus deaths have been reported — although experts also believe that number is an undercount .
The US , India and Brazil are reporting by far the highest numbers of coronavirus cases : with 8.1 million , 7.5 million and 5.2 million respectively .
But the recent global increase is driven by a surge in Europe — which has seen more than 240,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths .
Europe last week also reported a record weekly high of nearly 700,000 new cases , according to the World Health Organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for about a third of global cases .
Britain , France , Russia and Spain account for about half of all new COVID-19 cases in the region , and countries like Belgium and the Czech Republic are battling more intense outbreaks than they faced earlier this year .
The World Health Organization has warned that intensive care units in several European cities could soon be overwhelmed if governments and citizens do not adhere to mitigation measures .
Italy and Switzerland have initiated new mask-wearing requirements , schools have been shuttered in Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants and bars have been closed in Belgium and France .
France has implemented a 9 p.m. curfew and limited lockdowns are in place in parts of the UK .
A previous WHO estimate calculated that about 1 in 10 of the world ’ s population — around 780 million people in total — have contracted COVID-19 .
That ’ s nearly 20 times the official number of cases currently reported .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the globe exceeded 40 million Monday morning, according to the latest data — although far more people are believed to have been infected.
Johns Hopkins University, which collates COVID-19 reports from around the world, has recorded 40,076,184 confirmed cases of the virus.
The actual worldwide number, however, is believed to be much higher as testing has been variable, many have been asymptomatic and some governments have concealed the actual number of cases.
Globally, more than 1.1 million confirmed virus deaths have been reported — although experts also believe that number is an undercount.
The US, India and Brazil are reporting by far the highest numbers of coronavirus cases: with 8.1 million, 7.5 million and 5.2 million respectively.
But the recent global increase is driven by a surge in Europe — which has seen more than 240,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.
Europe last week also reported a record weekly high of nearly 700,000 new cases, according to the World Health Organization — which said that the region was responsible for about a third of global cases.
Britain, France, Russia and Spain account for about half of all new COVID-19 cases in the region, and countries like Belgium and the Czech Republic are battling more intense outbreaks than they faced earlier this year.
The World Health Organization has warned that intensive care units in several European cities could soon be overwhelmed if governments and citizens do not adhere to mitigation measures.
Italy and Switzerland have initiated new mask-wearing requirements, schools have been shuttered in Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic, and restaurants and bars have been closed in Belgium and France.
France has implemented a 9 p.m. curfew and limited lockdowns are in place in parts of the UK.
A previous WHO estimate calculated that about 1 in 10 of the world’s population — around 780 million people in total — have contracted COVID-19. That’s nearly 20 times the official number of cases currently reported.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--2,000-year-old lounging cat figure discovered among Peru’s Nazca Lines

A 120-foot-long figure of a cat carved into the Nazca desert in Peru more than 2,000 years ago has been unearthed – joining a long collection of mysterious geoglyphs etched at the UNESCO World Heritage site , the BBC reported .
The formidable feline has gone unnoticed until plans were recently drawn up for a new path leading to an observation platform for tourists .
“ The figure was scarcely visible and was about to disappear , because it ’ s situated on quite a steep slope that ’ s prone to the effects of natural erosion , ” Peru @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
Nazca chief archeologist Johny Isla told the Efe news agency that the cat pre-dates the Nazca culture , which created most of the figures from 200 to 700 AD .
The cat was actually from the late Paracas era , which was from 500 BC to 200 AD , he added .
“ We know that from comparing iconographies , ” he said .
“ Paracas textiles , for example , show birds , cats and people that are easily comparable to these geoglyphs.
” The cat joins a wide variety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area in the last century , including depictions of a hummingbird , a monkey and a pelican , according to CNN .
Several geometric shapes and patterns — including spirals and triangles — also were carved into the desert landscape .
“ They are the most outstanding group of geoglyphs anywhere in the world and are unmatched in its extent , magnitude , quantity , size , diversity and ancient tradition to any similar work in the world , ” according to UNSECO ’ s website .
“ The concentration and juxtaposition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultural continuity , demonstrate that this was an important and long-lasting activity , lasting approximately one thousand years.
” Researchers from Japan ’ s Yamagata University last year discovered more than 140 geoglyphs in the area with the help of 3D imaging , CNN reported .

It’s a paws-itively huge discovery.
A 120-foot-long figure of a cat carved into the Nazca desert in Peru more than 2,000 years ago has been unearthed — joining a big collection of mysterious geoglyphs etched at the UNESCO World Heritage site, the BBC reported.
The formidable feline had gone unnoticed until plans were recently drawn up for a new path leading to an observation platform for tourists.
“The figure was scarcely visible and was about to disappear, because it’s situated on quite a steep slope that’s prone to the effects of natural erosion,” Peru’s Culture Ministry said in a statement.
Nazca chief archaeologist Johny Isla told the Efe news agency that the cat predates the Nazca culture, which created most of the figures from 200 to 700 AD. The cat was actually from the late Paracas era, which was from 500 BC to 200 AD, he added.
“We know that from comparing iconographies,” he said. “Paracas textiles, for example, show birds, cats and people that are easily comparable to these geoglyphs.”
The cat joins a wide variety of other zoomorphic etchings found across the area in the last century, including depictions of a hummingbird, a monkey and a pelican, according to CNN.
Several geometric shapes and patterns — including spirals and triangles — also were carved into the desert landscape.
“They are the most outstanding group of geoglyphs anywhere in the world and are unmatched in its extent, magnitude, quantity, size, diversity and ancient tradition to any similar work in the world,” according to UNESCO’s website.
“The concentration and juxtaposition of the lines, as well as their cultural continuity, demonstrate that this was an important and long-lasting activity, lasting approximately one thousand years.”
Researchers from Japan’s Yamagata University last year discovered more than 140 geoglyphs in the area with the help of 3D imaging, CNN reported.


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--How Does ‘The Vow’ Season 1 End? What Could Happen in Season 2?

It ’ s been quite a journey , but The Vow is finally over .
For now .
Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer ’ s docuseries managed to do the unthinkable .
It expanded a shocking true crime story across nine hour-long episodes while still leaving viewers clamoring for more .
Part of that had to do with the truly jaw-dropping story at the center of this series .
NXIVM was sold to its members as a self-help group that taught courses on personal growth .
But in reality it was an organization that encouraged its members to share their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same secrets to blackmail them .
At this dark organization ’ s center was DOS , a sex-trafficking ring led by actor Allison Mack that groomed and branded its members .
Everything about The Vow has been insane , and you better believe that holds true about its finale .
Wondering how The Vow ended ?
Hoping for a Season 2 ?
Here ’ s what you need to know .
How Does The Vow Season 1 End ?
The Vow Season 1 ends on the moment everyone has been looking forward to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But before it gets to the good stuff the docuseries has to dive into another NXIVM center , this one in Mexico .
There ’ s a lot of talk about the specific way Raniere was awful to Mexican NXIVM members , from promising his followers that he could end kidnappings in their country to using a kidnapping victim as his own personal promotional tool .
But this narrative side quest is quickly explained .
In an attempt to escape his arrest Raniere fled to Mexico and hid among his followers .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested by Mexican authorities in March of 2018 at a luxury resort near Puerto Vallarta .
According to The Daily Beast , the arrest allegedly interfered with a planned group sex session .
In the days that followed several other high-level members of NXIVM were arrested including DOS founder Allison Mack , NXIVM co-founder Nancy Salzman , her daughter Lauren Salzman , Seagram heiress Clare Bronfman , and bookkeeper Kathy Russell .
All have since pled guilty to various charges .
For his part Raniere was indited on a variety of charges including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and conspiracy to commit forced labor .
His trial was held in June of 2019 where he was found guilty of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography , sex trafficking , identity theft , trafficking for labor , and conspiracy to alter records .
He was also found guilty of several other conspiracies including sex trafficking , forced labor , racketeering , and wire fraud .
But just because Raniere is in prison that doesn ’ t mean The Vow is finished with him .
In the docuseries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a call from Brooklyn ’ s Metropolitan Detention Center from September of this year .
“ There are many ways of presenting a documentary .
Your side is only the very top layer , ” Raniere says .
“ And depending on what you ’ re willing to present as the truth , it can go very deep .
So talk to me.
” That ’ s right ; it sounds like Keith Raniere is ready to talk .
Where Is Keith Raniere Now ?
Currently , the NXIVM leader is biding his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center as he waits for his sentencing .
The prosecutors in this case are seeking a life sentence .
For his part Raniere has maintained his innocence .
It certainly is .
Last Friday ( October 16 ) HBO announced that it had ordered a second season of the chilling docuseries .
What Is The Vow Season 2 About ?
Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer will again direct and executive produce the series , which is set to premiere sometime in 2021 .
This new installment will follow the case against Raniere while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s innermost circle.
” The new installment will also pay more attention to NXIVM ’ s highly connected center in Mexico .
No matter what it ’ s going to be wild .
Watch The Vow on HBO Go and HBO Max

It’s been quite a journey, but The Vow is finally over. For now.
Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer’s docuseries managed to do the unthinkable. It expanded a shocking true crime story across nine hour-long episodes while still leaving viewers clamoring for more. Part of that had to do with the truly jaw-dropping story at the center of this series. NXIVM was sold to its members as a self-help group that taught courses on personal growth. But in reality it was an organization that encouraged its members to share their deepest, darkest secrets before using those same secrets to blackmail them. At this dark organization’s center was DOS, a sex-trafficking ring led by actor Allison Mack that groomed and branded its members.
Everything about The Vow has been insane, and you better believe that holds true about its finale. Wondering how The Vow ended? Hoping for a Season 2? Here’s what you need to know.
How Does The Vow Season 1 End?
The Vow Season 1 ends on the moment everyone has been looking forward to: Keith Raniere’s arrest. But before it gets to the good stuff the docuseries has to dive into another NXIVM center, this one in Mexico. There’s a lot of talk about the specific way Raniere was awful to Mexican NXIVM members, from promising his followers that he could end kidnappings in their country to using a kidnapping victim as his own personal promotional tool. But this narrative side quest is quickly explained. In an attempt to escape his arrest Raniere fled to Mexico and hid among his followers.
In didn’t work. Raniere was arrested by Mexican authorities in March of 2018 at a luxury resort near Puerto Vallarta. According to The Daily Beast, the arrest allegedly interfered with a planned group sex session. In the days that followed several other high-level members of NXIVM were arrested including DOS founder Allison Mack, NXIVM co-founder Nancy Salzman, her daughter Lauren Salzman, Seagram heiress Clare Bronfman, and bookkeeper Kathy Russell. All have since pled guilty to various charges.
For his part Raniere was indited on a variety of charges including sex trafficking, conspiracy for sex trafficking, and conspiracy to commit forced labor. His trial was held in June of 2019 where he was found guilty of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography, sex trafficking, identity theft, trafficking for labor, and conspiracy to alter records. He was also found guilty of several other conspiracies including sex trafficking, forced labor, racketeering, and wire fraud.
But just because Raniere is in prison that doesn’t mean The Vow is finished with him. In the docuseries’ final moments, the producers record a call from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center from September of this year. “There are many ways of presenting a documentary. Your side is only the very top layer,” Raniere says. “And depending on what you’re willing to present as the truth, it can go very deep. So talk to me.”
That’s right; it sounds like Keith Raniere is ready to talk.
Where Is Keith Raniere Now?
Currently, the NXIVM leader is biding his time in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center as he waits for his sentencing. The prosecutors in this case are seeking a life sentence. For his part Raniere has maintained his innocence.
Is The Vow Season 2 Happening?
It certainly is. Last Friday (October 16) HBO announced that it had ordered a second season of the chilling docuseries.
What Is The Vow Season 2 About?
Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer will again direct and executive produce the series, which is set to premiere sometime in 2021. This new installment will follow the case against Raniere while offering “an exclusive view into Raniere’s innermost circle.” The new installment will also pay more attention to NXIVM’s highly connected center in Mexico. No matter what it’s going to be wild.
Watch The Vow on HBO Go and HBO Max


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--Infectious disease expert: Coming weeks will be ‘darkest’ of COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has reached practically every spot on Earth , ...

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A leading infectious disease expert in the US has warned that the coming weeks “are going to be the darkest” of the entire coronavirus pandemic.
Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, says the US is seeing a fresh surge in cases while awaiting a vaccine.
“We do have vaccines and therapeutics coming down the pike, but when you actually look at the time period for that, the next six to 12 weeks are going to be the darkest of the entire pandemic,” he warned Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“Vaccines will not become available in any meaningful way until early to [the] third quarter of next year. And even then, half of the US population at this point is skeptical even taking the vaccine.”
Osterholm stressed that although the US wants to achieve herd immunity, “we don’t want to get there through disease — we want to get there through a vaccination program.”
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He noted how large swaths of the US were already suffering a second wave of cases, one that will only worsen in the approach to the holiday season.
“When I was on this show last, September 13, we had 33,000 cases reported that day,” Osterholm told host Chuck Todd.
“Friday we had 70,000 cases, matching the largest number we had seen back during the really serious peak in July. That number — we’re going to blow right through that. And between now and the holidays, we will see numbers much, much larger.”
It means making tough decisions for many to stay home during the holidays, noting “far too many” cases of family get-togethers where “someone brings the virus into the household unknowingly, and then four weeks later, one or more of the family members are dead.”
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Dr. Scott Atlas, a member of the White House coronavirus task force AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Advertisement A COVID-19 patient in a medically induced coma at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside, New York Newsday via Getty Images Advertisement
“This is our COVID year. Let’s accept it. It’s not like last year, and it’s not hopefully going to be like next year,” he said.
“So if you really love the people that you have in your immediate family … do them the greatest gift of all, and that is distance yourself this year and don’t expose them.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--Nunavut, a territory in North America, has no cases of COVID-19

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The coronavirus pandemic has reached practically every spot on Earth , but the final frontier appears to be a remote spot in North America where the total number of infections is officially zero , according to a report .
Officials in Nunavut , a massive but sparsely populated territory in northern Canada , took quick and drastic action when infections rose in March – barring entry to almost everyone who doesn ’ t live there , the BBC reported .
Residents returning from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , at the local government ’ s expense , in “ isolation hubs ” — hotels in Winnipeg , Yellowknife , Ottawa or Edmonton – with roaming security guards , according to the outlet .
To date , a little over 7,000 Nunavummiut have spent time in these waypoints on their way back home , though there have been reports that some people broke isolation .
Dr. Michael Patterson , Nunavut ’ s chief public health officer , told the BBC that the “ fairly drastic ” decision to impose the stringent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population ’ s potential vulnerability to the disease and the unique challenges of the Arctic region .
About 36,000 people live in Nunavut across 25 communities scattered across its 809,000 square miles — about three times the size of Texas .
The lack of COVID-19 cases is likely to be partly due to natural isolation since those communities can only be reached year-round by air .
Last month , there was an outbreak linked to workers who flew in from the south to a remote gold mine 100 miles from the Arctic Circle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their home jurisdictions , keeping the territory ’ s case count at zero .
Most of the Nunavut communities don ’ t have the capacity to perform coronavirus testing locally , so tests have to be flown in and out – and early on , the results could take a week , the BBC reported .
“ You ’ re really , really far behind by the time you can identify and respond , ” Patterson said , though efforts are underway to increase testing capacity and turnaround times for results in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical resources in the area .
The 35-bed acute care Qikiqtani General Hospital in the capital of Iqaluit could handle about 20 coronavirus patients , Patterson said .
In case of an outbreak , “ those people who need treatment , or need admission , many of them will wind up having to go south and so that will another load on our Medevac system , ” he said .
As a whole , Canada has managed to stem the tide of the outbreak during the summer .
As of late last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9,699 deaths nationwide .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
The coronavirus pandemic has reached practically every spot on Earth, but the final frontier appears to be a remote spot in North America where the total number of infections is officially zero, according to a report.
Officials in Nunavut, a massive but sparsely populated territory in northern Canada, took quick and drastic action when infections rose in March – barring entry to almost everyone who doesn’t live there, the BBC reported.
Residents returning from outside were required to first spend two weeks, at the local government’s expense, in “isolation hubs” — hotels in Winnipeg, Yellowknife, Ottawa or Edmonton – with roaming security guards, according to the outlet.
To date, a little over 7,000 Nunavummiut have spent time in these waypoints on their way back home, though there have been reports that some people broke isolation.
Dr. Michael Patterson, Nunavut’s chief public health officer, told the BBC that the “fairly drastic” decision to impose the stringent measures was made both due to the population’s potential vulnerability to the disease and the unique challenges of the Arctic region.
About 36,000 people live in Nunavut across 25 communities scattered across its 809,000 square miles — about three times the size of Texas.
The lack of COVID-19 cases is likely to be partly due to natural isolation since those communities can only be reached year-round by air.
Last month, there was an outbreak linked to workers who flew in from the south to a remote gold mine 100 miles from the Arctic Circle, but those were counted as infections in their home jurisdictions, keeping the territory’s case count at zero.
Most of the Nunavut communities don’t have the capacity to perform coronavirus testing locally, so tests have to be flown in and out – and early on, the results could take a week, the BBC reported.
“You’re really, really far behind by the time you can identify and respond,” Patterson said, though efforts are underway to increase testing capacity and turnaround times for results in the territory.
There also are limited medical resources in the area.
The 35-bed acute care Qikiqtani General Hospital in the capital of Iqaluit could handle about 20 coronavirus patients, Patterson said.
In case of an outbreak, “those people who need treatment, or need admission, many of them will wind up having to go south and so that will another load on our Medevac system,” he said.
As a whole, Canada has managed to stem the tide of the outbreak during the summer. As of late last week, there had been 191,732 cases and 9,699 deaths nationwide.


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--Dorm demolition goes horribly wrong

Dorm demolition goes horribly wrong

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Timber? A demolition accident was caught on camera at Western Carolina University as a vacant residence hall toppled over onto a crane, crushing the machine’s arm. Watch the epic fail filmed in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
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newyorkpost--2020-10-19--Perdue Chicken distances itself from senator who mocked Kamala Harris

Perdue Chicken ’ s feathers have been ruffled by Republican Georgia Sen. David Perdue , whose mockery of Sen. Kamala Harris ’ name has left many assuming that he is affiliated with the company .
During a campaign rally for President Trump in Georgia on Friday , Perdue mangled the vice-presidential candidate ’ s name as “ Kamala-mala-mala , ” prompting his opponent Jon Ossoff to condemn the senator for his “ race-baiting.
” Perdue ’ s staff has insisted that his comments were unintentional , but the backlash grew and eventually a hashtag sprouted calling for Americans to boycott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected to the senator , USA Today reported .
After being roasted in social media , Perdue Chicken responded by saying that the lawmaker has no ties to the company .
“ David Perdue has no affiliation with our Perdue brand , ” the company said in multiple tweets .
Among the Twitterati who took notice was CNN analyst Bakari Sellers , who wrote : “ When the chickens start distancing themselves from you….
# FreeEliza.
” Eliza was the person who signed many of the company ’ s tweets , prompting many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poor Eliza.
” Although Perdue is the cousin of Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue , he has no relation to the Perdues , who started the national chicken company in 1920 , USA Today reported .

Perdue Chicken’s feathers have been ruffled by Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia, whose mockery of Sen. Kamala Harris’ name has left many assuming that he is affiliated with the company.
During a campaign rally for President Trump in Georgia on Friday, Perdue mangled the vice presidential candidate’s name as “Kamala-mala-mala,” prompting his opponent, Jon Ossoff, to condemn the senator for his “race-baiting.”
Perdue’s staff has insisted that his comments were unintentional, but the backlash grew and eventually a hashtag sprouted calling for Americans to boycott the chicken giant, believing it was connected to the senator, USA Today reported.
After being roasted on social media, Perdue Chicken responded by saying the lawmaker has no ties to the company.
“David Perdue has no affiliation with our Perdue brand,” the company said in multiple tweets.
Among the Twitterati who took notice was CNN analyst Bakari Sellers, who wrote: “When the chickens start distancing themselves from you….#FreeEliza.”
Eliza was the person who signed many of the company’s tweets, prompting many social media users to begin circulating “Poor Eliza.”
Although Sen. Perdue is the cousin of Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, he has no relation to the Perdues who started the national chicken company in 1920, USA Today reported.


newyorkpost--2020-10-19--Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick retiring from legendary NHL broadcasting career

Say it ain ’ t so , Doc !
Mike “ Doc ” Emrick , the incomparable Voice of the NHL , Monday morning will retire , as per a shared announcement with NBC Sports .
Emrick , 74 , rose from calling college and minor league hockey radio broadcasts to develop an enthralling style that emphasized superior , often mesmerizing play-by-play : Original on-the-fly , bull ’ s-eye descriptions ; a great knowledge of the game ; current and past anecdotal info , timed to perfection ; strong , warm relationships with his color analysts ; and a modest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced nothing .
He just knew how to know .
“ I hope I can handle retirement OK , ” he said Sunday night from his home in Michigan , “ especially since I ’ ve never done it before .
But I ’ ve just been extremely lucky for 50 years .
And NBC has been so good to me , especially since the pandemic , when I was allowed to work from home in a studio NBC created .
“ Now , into my golden years , this just seemed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Plus , I ’ ve now accumulated enough frequent-flyer miles — to not go anywhere.
” Perhaps the greatest tributes to Emrick have been paid by non-hockey fans , often women , who , while hearing Emrick in passing , asked , “ Who is this guy ?
He ’ s wonderful !
” Emrick was the rarest of TV announcers in that his presence could entice us to watch then even stick with blowouts , rather than risk losing what he might say .
Born in Indiana and still a devoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prince over KDKA Radio , Emrick is a 19-year cancer survivor .
He earned his Ph.D and nickname in broadcasting while at Bowling Green .
He and his wife , Joyce , plus dogs and horses , have for years lived in Michigan .
There is nothing Emrick hasn ’ t done on behalf of hockey , including becoming the founder of the NHL ’ s increasingly valued NHL [ players ’ ] Pronunciation Guide , and never turning down an interview request including — and especially — from high school kids who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in , at last count , seven halls of fame .
That he ’ d establish himself as an East Coast voice — Hershey Bears , Maine Mariners , Flyers , Rangers ’ radio , Devils — before ESPN , CBS and finally NBC — was this region ’ s great fortune .
On a personal , off-air basis , Emrick is the ultimate mensch .
A deacon in the Methodist Church , his gentle sense of humor and unyielding patience and respect for all creates envy for a life well-lived , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once met flattery with the suggestion that folks name their progeny “ Doc ” by saying “ as long as it ’ s not Grumpy , Dopey or Sleepy.
” Sam Flood , executive producer of NBC Sports , put it very well : “ Doc is a national treasure .
Simply put , he ’ s one of the best ever to put on a headset .
”

Say it ain’t so, Doc!
Mike “Doc” Emrick, the incomparable voice of the NHL, Monday morning will retire, as per a shared announcement with NBC Sports.
Emrick, 74, rose from calling college and minor league hockey radio broadcasts to develop an enthralling style that emphasized superior, often mesmerizing play-by-play: original on-the-fly, bull’s-eye descriptions; a great knowledge of the game; current and past anecdotal info, timed to perfection; strong, warm relationships with his color analysts; and a modest charm that radiated as real. He forced nothing. He just knew how to know.
“I hope I can handle retirement OK,” he said Sunday night from his home in Michigan, “especially since I’ve never done it before. But I’ve just been extremely lucky for 50 years. And NBC has been so good to me, especially since the pandemic, when I was allowed to work from home in a studio NBC created.
“Now, into my golden years, this just seemed to be the time that was right.
“Plus, I’ve now accumulated enough frequent-flyer miles — to not go anywhere.”
Perhaps the greatest tributes to Emrick have been paid by non-hockey fans, often women, who, while hearing Emrick in passing, asked, “Who is this guy? He’s wonderful!”
Emrick was the rarest of TV announcers in that his presence could entice us to watch, then even stick with blowouts, rather than risk losing what he might say.
Born in Indiana and still a devoted Pittsburgh Pirates fan from listening to Bob Prince over KDKA Radio, Emrick is a 19-year cancer survivor. He earned his Ph.D. and nickname in broadcasting while at Bowling Green. He and his wife, Joyce, plus dogs and horses, have lived for years in Michigan.
There is nothing Emrick hasn’t done on behalf of hockey, including becoming the founder of the NHL’s increasingly valued NHL [players’] Pronunciation Guide, and never turning down an interview request including — and especially — from high school kids who aspire to careers in broadcasting.
Emrick is in, at last count, seven halls of fame.
That he’d establish himself as an East Coast voice — Hershey Bears, Maine Mariners, Flyers, Rangers’ radio, Devils — before ESPN, CBS and finally NBC was this region’s great fortune.
On a personal, off-air basis, Emrick is the ultimate mensch. A deacon in the Methodist Church, his gentle sense of humor and unyielding patience and respect for all creates envy for a life well-lived, with plenty left to give.
Emrick once met flattery with the suggestion that folks name their progeny “Doc” by saying “as long as it’s not Grumpy, Dopey or Sleepy.”
Sam Flood, executive producer of NBC Sports, put it very well: “Doc is a national treasure. Simply put, he’s one of the best ever to put on a headset.”