newyorkpost--2020-12-22--FIFA accuses ex-boss Sepp Blatter, others of ‘criminal mismanagement’

FIFA on Tuesday accused former president Sepp Blatter and others of “ criminal mismanagement ” over their handling of a $ 565 million museum project .
Soccer ’ s worldwide governing body said it filed a criminal complaint with the state prosecutor in its home base of Zurich , Switzerland after finding that Blatter and other former managers wasted 500 million Swiss francs “ that could and should have been channeled into the development of global football.
” The complaint grew out of a forensic audit of the Zurich museum project that Blatter set up , which uncovered “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failures , some of which may be criminal in nature , ” said FIFA Deputy Secretary General Alasdair Bell .
“ We came to the conclusion that we had no choice other than to report the case to state prosecutors , not least because the current management of FIFA also has fiduciary responsibilities to the organization and we intend to live up to them , even if those before us dismally failed to , ” Bell said in a statement .
“ The accusations are baseless and are vehemently repudiated , ” Erni @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 140 million francs ( roughly $ 158 million ) renovating and refurbishing the Haus zur Enge in downtown Zurich — home to the FIFA World Football Museum — even though the body did not own the building , FIFA alleged .
The organization also locked itself into a long-term rental agreement with “ unfavorable terms ” that will cost FIFA 360 million francs ( about $ 407 million ) by the time it expires in 2045 , according to FIFA officials .
The allegations come about five years after FIFA removed Blatter from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bribery and corruption in the world ’ s most popular sport .
FIFA officials said they will submit all the documents in the museum case to the body ’ s independent ethics committee so it can take up its own investigation if warranted .
“ In addition , FIFA will continue to cooperate with the authorities in Switzerland and elsewhere so that those people who damaged football are held accountable for their actions , ” the organization said .

FIFA on Tuesday accused former president Sepp Blatter and others of “criminal mismanagement” over their handling of a $565 million museum project.
Soccer’s worldwide governing body said it filed a criminal complaint with the state prosecutor in its home base of Zurich, Switzerland after finding that Blatter and other former managers wasted 500 million Swiss francs “that could and should have been channeled into the development of global football.”
The complaint grew out of a forensic audit of the Zurich museum project that Blatter set up, which uncovered “a wide range of suspicious circumstances and management failures, some of which may be criminal in nature,” said FIFA Deputy Secretary General Alasdair Bell.
“We came to the conclusion that we had no choice other than to report the case to state prosecutors, not least because the current management of FIFA also has fiduciary responsibilities to the organization and we intend to live up to them, even if those before us dismally failed to,” Bell said in a statement.
Blatter’s lawyer, Lorenz Erni, shot down the allegations.
“The accusations are baseless and are vehemently repudiated,” Erni said.
Blatter’s administration spent 140 million francs (roughly $158 million) renovating and refurbishing the Haus zur Enge in downtown Zurich — home to the FIFA World Football Museum — even though the body did not own the building, FIFA alleged.
General view on the exhibition hall of the FIFA World Football Museum Getty Images
The organization also locked itself into a long-term rental agreement with “unfavorable terms” that will cost FIFA 360 million francs (about $407 million) by the time it expires in 2045, according to FIFA officials.
The allegations come about five years after FIFA removed Blatter from office after 17 years amid allegations of bribery and corruption in the world’s most popular sport.
FIFA officials said they will submit all the documents in the museum case to the body’s independent ethics committee so it can take up its own investigation if warranted.
“In addition, FIFA will continue to cooperate with the authorities in Switzerland and elsewhere so that those people who damaged football are held accountable for their actions,” the organization said.
With Post Wires


newyorkpost--2020-12-22--McConnell, Schumer reach deal to block Trump’s potential veto of defense bill

WASHINGTON — President Trump still intends to veto the veto-proof ...

Senate leadership hammered out a bipartisan deal to override President Trump’s possible veto of the defense authorization bill, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced early Tuesday.
“The Democrat leader and I have agreed to unanimous request as follows: The Senate will meet for pro forma sessions only until Dec. 29 when we will return to session,” the top Republican said from the Senate floor.
In the proposed post-Christmas gathering, lawmakers will “process” a veto override, according to McConnell (R-Ky.).
“In the event that President Trump does elect to veto this bipartisan bill, it appears the House may choose to return after the holidays to set up a vote to consider the veto … In the event that the president has vetoed the bill, and the House has voted to override the veto, the Senate would have the opportunity to process a veto override at that time.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ZUMA Wire
The National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House 335-78 and the Senate 84-13, “equips our military with the tools and resources they need to compete with our great power adversaries,” he continued.
Trump has been urging allies in both houses of Congress to vote against the measure unless it included language repealing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides a legal shield to tech companies for content on their websites.
Social media giants such as Twitter and Facebook should lose protection because they are not politically neutral forums, Trump has said.
McConnell urged the commander-in-chief not to vote against the measure.
“My intention was and is to ensure the Senate continues fulfilling our obligation to the men and women of our armed forces. I hope the president will not veto this bill,” he said.


newyorkpost--2020-12-22--Americans’ readiness to receive COVID-19 vaccine jumps: poll

Americans ’ willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has jumped markedly since the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs have been authorized for use by the FDA , according to a new poll .
According to the USA Today/Suffolk University Poll , 46 percent said they will take the vaccine as soon as they can – almost double the 26 percent who were ready to get the shot as soon as possible in a USA Today poll in late October .
In the new poll , 32 percent of the respondents said they would wait for others to get the shots before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to get control of this virus , and that would be doing my part , ” said Susan Sadule , 59 , a retiree from Easton , Pennsylvania who was polled .
“ From what I ’ ve read , it ’ s going to take about 75 percent of the nation taking the vaccine in order to create herd immunity — and quite frankly , I don ’ t want to live in a pandemic the rest of my life , ” said Lisa McAlister , 48 , a registered nurse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reluctant to getting a vaccine remain unpersuaded .
In October , one in five said they wouldn ’ t take the shot — now or later .
An identical 20 percent said that in the latest survey .
Both polls surveyed 1,000 registered voters and have margins of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points .

Americans’ willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has jumped markedly since the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs have been authorized for use by the FDA, according to a new poll.
According to the USA Today/Suffolk University Poll, 46 percent said they will take the vaccine as soon as they can — almost double the 26 percent who were ready to get the shot as soon as possible in a USA Today poll in late October.
In the new poll, 32 percent of the respondents said they would wait for others to get the shots before they do so themselves.
“We need to get control of this virus, and that would be doing my part,” said Susan Sadule, 59, a retiree from Easton, Pennsylvania, who was polled.
“From what I’ve read, it’s going to take about 75 percent of the nation taking the vaccine in order to create herd immunity — and quite frankly, I don’t want to live in a pandemic the rest of my life,” said Lisa McAlister, 48, a registered nurse from Grove, Oklahoma.
Those most reluctant to get a vaccine remain unpersuaded. In October, one in five said they wouldn’t take the shot — now or later. An identical 20 percent said that in the latest survey.
Both polls surveyed 1,000 registered voters and have margins of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.


newyorkpost--2020-12-22--Hundreds of propane tanks explode on Long Island Expressway, video shows

There are 21 of 32 teams still mathematically alive for ...

This is the moment a tractor-trailer carrying nearly 300 propane tanks exploded after an accident on the Long Island Expressway early Tuesday — a crash likely caused by black ice, according to cops.
Dramatic footage shows the massive inferno just after midnight on the eastbound service road of the highway near Junction Boulevard in Queens — with clips catching several explosions from the 294 propane tanks being carried.
Police investigators found black ice just before the crash, and believe the tanker truck likely overturned after slipping on the ice — possibly while trying to avoid another vehicle that also skidded on it, an NYPD spokesman told The Post.
Amazingly, the driver escaped without injury, the spokesman said.


newyorkpost--2020-12-22--Dr. Fauci says new COVID-19 strain from UK is likely in US now

There is no alternative open to me , '' Johnson said at ...

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said the new mutation of COVID-19 that has spread across the UK is likely already in the US — and may even have originated here, according to a top virologist — but does not appear to affect the “protective nature” of the vaccines being used.
“When you see something that is pretty prevalent in a place like the UK — there are also mutations that we’re seeing in South Africa — and given the travel throughout the world, I would not be surprised if it is already here,” Fauci told Judy Woofruff on “PBS NewsHour.”
“When we start to look for it, we’re going to find it,” he said, adding that “you have to make that assumption” that the mutated bug is in the US.
“Certainly, it is not yet the prevalent one, the way it seems to have assumed that prevalent nature in the UK,” Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Monday.
“But we’re going to be looking for it right now, and I’m sure, sooner or later, we’re going to run into it and find it,” added the nation’s top infectious diseases expert.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Luban, a virologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, joined a number of other infectious diseases experts who said the variant may not have even originated in the UK in the first place.
“It may very well be here. It may have even started here. The sequencing in the US is so sporadic,” Luban said, according to the Washington Post.
Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security, said: “It makes sense that it was detected first in the UK because they have probably the world’s best surveillance program.
“It would not shock me at all to find out that it also is circulating in the US,” she added, the paper reported.
The experts suggested that the new strain was identified in the UK first because the country has a strong monitoring system that has studied tens of thousands of genomic sequences of viral samples, according to the report.
The US has lagged in sequencing and does not have nearly the same level of virus surveillance, the Washington Post reported.
Fauci said that since the bug that causes COVID-19 is an RNA virus, it tends to mutate a lot.
“Most of the mutations have no functional relevance,” he said. “This one has a suggestion that it might allow the virus to spread more readily.
“We’re still seeking out evidence to prove or disapprove that. But let’s make an assumption that it is, in fact, making the virus more transmissible, even though it hasn’t been proven yet,” Fauci continued.
“It doesn’t seem at all to have any impact on the virulence or what we call the deadliness of the virus. It doesn’t make people more sick. And it doesn’t seem to have any impact on the protective nature of the vaccines that we’re currently using,” he said.
“So, it’s something you take seriously, you keep your eye out on it, and you do tests to determine if there is more functional relevance than we seem to believe that there is,” Fauci added.
The top doc also said he thinks a UK travel ban “might be premature.”
“I don’t think that that kind of a draconian approach is necessary. I think we should seriously consider the possibility of requiring testing of people before they come from the UK here,” Fauci said.
“But I don’t think that there is enough evidence right now to essentially lock down any travel from the UK, but seriously to consider the possibility that you might want to require people who are coming here to be tested within a period of time, you know, 24, 34, or 76 hours before they get on a plane to come to the United States,” he added.
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci speaks after Vice President Mike Pence received the COVID-19 vaccine. AFP via Getty Images
On Tuesday morning, Fauci will receive Moderna’s jab alongside Health Secretary Alex Azar, National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, and front-line workers at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the Moderna vaccine Friday, making it the second approved inoculation for the global pandemic.
An earlier vaccine by Pfizer-BioNTech was approved by the FDA Dec 11.


newyorkpost--2020-12-22--Watch these shelter dogs pick their own Christmas toy

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These dogs went on a toy-sniffing shopping spree. Dogs Trust Ireland’s Rehoming Center in Dublin let the shelter's canines select their own Christmas present. Watch the adorable montage here.
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newyorkpost--2020-12-22--NFL Power Rankings for Week 16: Lots of movement

As the Giants move into the final stages of their ...

There are 21 of 32 teams still mathematically alive for a playoff berth with two weeks remaining in the 2020 season, including all four in the NFC East.
Multiple losses in a row by the Pittsburgh Steelers (three) and the New Orleans Saints (two) have shaken up the top of The Post’s weekly NFL Power Rankings.
The top spot has remained unchanged since Week 8, however, since the Chiefs regained it following a two-week absence following their lone loss of the season to Las Vegas on Oct. 11
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 13-1 (Last week: 1)
The defending Super Bowl champions have all but clinched the coveted bye in the AFC, but Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes lost one of their weapons for at least the rest of the regular season in rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (high ankle sprain) in Sunday’s win over New Orleans. Next: Sunday vs. Atlanta
2. Green Bay Packers, 11-3 (2)
The Pack also moved a game ahead of the Saints and the Seahawks for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers became the first quarterback in NFL history to produce three or more seasons of at least 40 touchdown passes Saturday against Carolina – peaking Green Bay’s fourth consecutive win. Next: Sunday vs. Tennessee
Josh Allen Getty Images
3. Buffalo Bills, 11-3 (3)
The Bills are AFC East champions for the first time since 1995, but head coach Sean McDermott declared after Saturday’s blowout of Denver that they “still have work to do.” Buffalo also hasn’t won a playoff game over that 25-year span, but Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs and the Bills clearly look like they plan to be a factor in the AFC. Next: Monday at New England
4. Seattle Seahawks, 10-4 (6)
Pete Carroll and the Seahawks pulled out a needed win against Washington and then received an absolute gift in the NFC West from the Rams, who became the first NFL team to lose to the Jets this season. Seattle owns a one-game divisional lead ahead of their key head-to-head matchup this week. Next: Sunday vs. LA Rams
Benny Snell is tackled by three Bengals. Getty Images
5. Pittsburgh Steelers, 11-3 (4)
Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ three-week free fall following an 11-0 start continued with a total self-destruction Monday night against a two-win Bengals team with backup Ryan Finley at quarterback. The Steelers have two tough games remaining, including Week 17 against Cleveland, to try to hold off the Browns in the AFC North. Next: Sunday vs. Indianapolis
6. New Orleans Saints, 10-4 (5)
Drew Brees has two more weeks before the postseason begins to fully shake off the rust he showed (15-for-34, 234 yards) in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs, his first game since suffering 11 fractured ribs and a punctured lung Nov. 15 against San Francisco. Next: Friday vs. Minnesota
7. Cleveland Browns, 10-4 (8)
Three seasons from finishing 0-16, the Browns are rising fast in the AFC with their first double-digit season in wins since 2007 and closing in on the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2002. Baker Mayfield has totaled 15 TD passes and two interceptions over his last eight games (6-2). Next: Sunday at Jets
8. Tennessee Titans, 10-4 (9)
Derrick Henry needs to average 160.5 rushing yards over the final two games to become the eighth player in NFL history to reach 2,000 in one season. Ryan Tannehill has had a quietly efficient season with a 31 touchdown passes and a 110.4 passer rating, fourth-best in the league. Next: Sunday at Green Bay
9. Indianapolis Colts, 10-4 (10)
Frank Reich and the Colts have taken advantage of skidding Houston twice during their three-game winning streak, and they are in need of a slipup by the Titans to snare the AFC South crown. Next: Sunday at Pittsburgh
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9-5 (11)
Two straight losses by the Saints have kept Tom Brady and the Bucs alive in the NFC South, and they are on the brink of their first playoff berth since 2007. It wasn’t quite the Super Bowl LI comeback, but Brady did it to the Falcons again Sunday with his new team. Next: Saturday at Detroit
11. Baltimore Ravens, 9-5 (12)
12. Los Angeles Rams, 9-5 (7)
13. Miami Dolphins, 9-5 (13)
14. Arizona Cardinals, 8-6 (14)
15. Las Vegas Raiders, 7-7 (15)
16. Chicago Bears, 7-7 (19)
17. Washington Football Team, 6-8 (16)
18. Minnesota Vikings, 6-8 (17)
19. New England Patriots, 6-8 (18)
20. Giants, 5-9 (19)
Whether Daniel Jones or Colt McCoy starts this week, the Giants face an almost impossible task to win the NFC East without an upset win against a talented team that is starting to find itself. Next: Sunday at Baltimore
21. Dallas Cowboys, 5-9 (26)
22. San Francisco 49ers, 5-9 (21)
23. Detroit Lions, 5-9 (22)
24. Denver Broncos, 5-9 (23)
25. Los Angeles Chargers, 5-9 (29)
26. Philadelphia Eagles, 4-9-1 (24)
27. Atlanta Falcons, 4-10 (25)
28. Houston Texans, 4-10 (27)
29. Carolina Panthers, 4-10 (28)
30. Cincinnati Bengals, 3-10-1 (30)
31. Jets, 1-13 (32)
The Jets are out of the cellar in the weekly rankings for the first time this season, so there’s your consolation prize for potentially losing out on a shot at Trevor Lawrence. The Bengals’ surprise win Monday night over Pittsburgh did clinch no worse than the No.2 overall pick for the Jets. Next: Sunday vs. Cleveland
32. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-13 (31)


newyorkpost--2020-12-22--Truck carrying hundreds of propane tanks catches fire on LIE

The Jets won ’ t come close to the Super Bowl this ...

A tractor-trailer carrying hundreds of propane tanks overturned on the Long Island Expressway early Tuesday morning — shutting down the road and sending flames roaring into the sky, sources said.
The driver of the vehicle managed to escape without injury from the fiery wreck on the eastbound service road of the highway near Junction Boulevard in Queens, FDNY sources said.
Footage captured by a witness and posted to social media shows the trailer completely engulfed in flames.
The driver was hauling 294 propane tanks, sources said. Several explosions can also be heard in the clip.
The crash shut down the LIE west of Woodhaven Boulevard, according to Notify NYC.


newyorkpost--2020-12-22--Adam Gase: Jets were most excited team I’ve seen after win

If only Fox could have had a camera on Joe ...

The Jets won’t come close to the Super Bowl this season, but they will always have Sunday and the postgame euphoria that ensued.
After stunning the Rams 23-20 to pick up their first win of the season following an 0-13 start, the Jets on Monday did not downplay their emotions upon finally breaking through.
“As somebody that’s been through a lot of different things in my career, I don’t think I’ve seen a group more excited after a game than what I saw [Sunday] night,” said coach Adam Gase, who was the offensive coordinator for the Broncos in 2013 when they went to the Super Bowl.
It was a stark contrast to what a large portion of the fan base was feeling, since the win may have cost the Jets a chance to draft Trevor Lawrence. But that was hardly a thought for the players and staff who had taken a beating week after week this season.
“I know it’s a huge relief for a lot of the guys in the locker room to be able to get this win, and it means the world to us,” quarterback Sam Darnold said Monday on a conference call. “It was just a lot of emotion and excitement in the locker room after the game and obviously on the flight back as well.”
It was only a week ago the Jets had taken another redeye flight back from the West Coast after getting crushed by the Seahawks, 40-3. That came a week after their best chance of a win slipped through their fingers on the now-infamous cover-zero blitz that delivered a heartbreaking loss against the Raiders. There was the late blown lead against the Patriots, too, and the comeback that fell just short against the Chargers.
All of it had taken a toll on the Jets, but they still fought back to avoid the infamy that would have come with becoming the third team in NFL history to go 0-16.
“It took a lot longer than obviously we wanted it to,” Gase said. “Nothing’s really gone right this season and they’ve been through a lot of adversity. … The excitement that they had on the way home, it was fun to see.”
Gase explained that the reaction to the win that clinched the Broncos a spot in the Super Bowl was different because of the expectations that came with their record-setting regular season in 2013.
The Jets, meanwhile, were largely left for dead — coming in at 0-13 as 17-point underdogs against the Rams — and won anyway.
“That’s probably the best I’ve felt after a regular-season win,” sixth-year defensive end Henry Anderson said. “It definitely was a little bit different than normal. I guess that’s kind of what happens when you start the season 0-13 and win your first game in Week 15.”
Gase said CEO Christopher Johnson “was just really happy for everybody” after seeing the work the Jets have put in throughout the season. The embattled coach and his players had often spoken of strong practices and continuing to play hard despite the brutal season, but Sunday they finally had something to show for it.
“It says a lot about the character in the locker room,” Anderson said. “[At] 0-13, it’s easy for guys to roll it in, say, ‘Screw it.’ … [Guys] could just not be paying attention on our virtual meetings and come out to practice with bad energy and just try to get through the rest of the season and go back home after our game against the Patriots. But we don’t have those types of guys in our locker room.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-22--Alleged drunk driver bites police K-9, barks at police

A California man is accused of biting a police K-9 and barking at officers after leading them on a pursuit @ @ @ @ @ .
Jorge Bucioperez is facing several charges after the wild chain of events that began @ @ @ @ @ run a red light while going 10 mph at an intersection in Corning , police @ @ @ @ @ stop when police tried to pull him over and sped up to 75 mph , @ @ @ @ @ in a release posted to Facebook .
The suspect plowed through a gate , into @ @ @ @ @ foot into a residential backyard , prompting police to release their K-9 named Blaze .
@ @ @ @ @ the suspect allegedly of bit the dog , tried to bite officers and barked at @ @ @ @ @ .
Police said Bucioperez had been drinking , and that methamphetamine was found in his @ @ @ @ @ with DUI , driving with an expired license and drug possession .

A California man is accused of biting a police K-9 and barking at officers after leading them on a pursuit Saturday night, authorities said.
Jorge Bucioperez is facing several charges after the wild chain of events that began when police spotted him allegedly run a red light while going 10 mph at an intersection in Corning, police said.
Bucioperez failed to stop when police tried to pull him over and sped up to 75 mph, the Corning Police Department said in a release posted to Facebook.
The suspect plowed through a gate, into a driveway and fled on foot into a residential backyard, prompting police to release their K-9 named Blaze.
Blaze captured Bucioperez, but the suspect allegedly of bit the dog, tried to bite officers and barked at them, the department said.
Police said Bucioperez had been drinking, and that methamphetamine was found in his van.
Bucioperez was charged with DUI, driving with an expired license and drug possession.


newyorkpost--2020-12-22--Injury is derailing Austin Rivers’ grand Knicks plans

Austin Rivers talked a big game about playing for his father ’ s former team , saying he wanted to be part of something special and make the franchise “ great again.
” Unfortunately for the combo guard , he has so far been very limited in that endeavor , and seems likely to miss the early part of the season with a right groin injury .
On Monday , coach Tom Thibodeau said the 28-year-old Rivers , whose father Doc is now coaching the 76ers , still has yet to return to practice , an ominous sign with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the Pacers .
He missed all four preseason games and was hurt early on in training camp .
“ The groin thing is still bothering him , ” Thibodeau said .
There was some good injury news , though .
Point guard Dennis Smith Jr. ( left quad ) and Frank Ntilikina ( left Achilles ) , along with center Nerlens Noel ( left knee ) , have returned from minor injuries .
Forward Omari Spellman ( right knee ) is still out .
Thibodeau wouldn ’ t reveal his opening night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ we have a pretty good idea ” who they will be , and what the rotation will look like .
“ But that doesn ’ t mean it ’ s set in stone , ” he said .
“ Obviously over the course of a season you need everyone , and particularly this year under these circumstances , quality depth is important and I feel that we have that.
” Julius Randle and RJ Barrett appear locks to start , and Elfrid Payton seems like a smart bet at the point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preseason .
The other two spots remain uncertain .
This season , sans fans in most arenas , will be very different .
There will only be essential personnel at Knicks games at the Garden at the outset due to COVID-19 .
Without fans , there may not be as much of a home whistle .
“ You ’ re just trying to help them along , ” Thibodeau joked about the officials .
“ No , I think it ’ s all the same from that standpoint .
It ’ s probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s there , so you can hear everything .
“ In some ways , it ’ s interesting , hearing the players talk and hearing the rim and things like that .
It ’ s a different vibe to it.
” As a formality , the Knicks announced they have picked up the third-year contract option on Barrett and fourth-year contract option on wing Kevin Knox ahead of Monday ’ s deadline .
The move was expected .

Austin Rivers talked a big game about playing for his father’s former team, saying he wanted to be part of something special and make the franchise “great again.”
Unfortunately for the combo guard, he has so far been very limited in that endeavor, and seems likely to miss the early part of the season with a right groin injury.
On Monday, coach Tom Thibodeau said the 28-year-old Rivers, whose father Doc is now coaching the 76ers, still has yet to return to practice, an ominous sign with the season set to begin Wednesday in Indiana against the Pacers. He missed all four preseason games and was hurt early on in training camp.
“The groin thing is still bothering him,” Thibodeau said.
There was some good injury news, though. Point guard Dennis Smith Jr. (left quad) and Frank Ntilikina (left Achilles), along with center Nerlens Noel (left knee), have returned from minor injuries. Forward Omari Spellman (right knee) is still out.
Austin Rivers NYKnicks.com
Thibodeau wouldn’t reveal his opening night starting lineup, but he did say that “we have a pretty good idea” who they will be, and what the rotation will look like.
“But that doesn’t mean it’s set in stone,” he said. “Obviously over the course of a season you need everyone, and particularly this year under these circumstances, quality depth is important and I feel that we have that.”
Julius Randle and RJ Barrett appear locks to start, and Elfrid Payton seems like a smart bet at the point despite rookie Immanuel Quickley’s impressive preseason. The other two spots remain uncertain.
This season, sans fans in most arenas, will be very different. There will only be essential personnel at Knicks games at the Garden at the outset due to COVID-19. Without fans, there may not be as much of a home whistle.
“You’re just trying to help them along,” Thibodeau joked about the officials. “No, I think it’s all the same from that standpoint. It’s probably a little different because no one’s there, so you can hear everything.
“In some ways, it’s interesting, hearing the players talk and hearing the rim and things like that. It’s a different vibe to it.”
As a formality, the Knicks announced they have picked up the third-year contract option on Barrett and fourth-year contract option on wing Kevin Knox ahead of Monday’s deadline. The move was expected.


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Open mic catches LA sheriff’s deputy allegedly having sex at Universal Studios

An on-duty Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputy allegedly had sex with a woman near the Bates Motel section of the Universal Studios lot – and accidentally left his microphone on for a dispatcher to hear a blow by blow of the sleazy romp .
TMZ obtained a clip of the X-rated encounter between the unnamed deputy and a woman near the section of the lot in Universal City devoted to the Alfred Hitchcock classic .
“ Oh , ” the giggling woman moans at one point .
“ Oh , my goodness !
” A female dispatcher then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ open mic ” as the woman continues to moan and breathe heavily .
“ 95 Ocean , you have an open mic , ” the dispatcher implores the deputy to no avail as the woman continues to moan on the clip .
“ 95 Ocean , you have an open mic – take care of mic.
” The woman then quiets down as the minute-long clip ends .
The deputy does not respond to the dispatcher on the portion obtained by the TMZ – and it ’ s unclear whether he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vehicle nearby .
The deputy — who has not been publicly identified — has been removed from duty as an internal investigation unfolds , department officials said .
“ The deputy was immediately relieved of duty and an administrative investigation has been opened , ” sheriff officials told The Post in a statement early Wednesday .
“ The deputy ’ s peace officer powers have been suspended and proper administrative action will be taken , based on the outcome of the investigation.
” A sheriff ’ s department spokesman declined to release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including how long the deputy has been employed by the department .

That’s Psycho.
An on-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy allegedly had sex with a woman near the Bates Motel section of the Universal Studios lot — and accidentally left his microphone on for a dispatcher to hear a blow-by-blow of the sleazy romp.
TMZ obtained a clip of the X-rated encounter between the unnamed deputy and a woman near the section of the lot in Universal City devoted to the Alfred Hitchcock classic.
“Oh,” the giggling woman moans at one point. “Oh, my goodness!”
A female dispatcher then alerts the deputy that he had an “open mic” as the woman continues to moan and breathe heavily.
“95 Ocean, you have an open mic,” the dispatcher implores the deputy to no avail as the woman continues to moan on the clip. “95 Ocean, you have an open mic — take care of mic.”
The woman then quiets down as the minute-long clip ends. The deputy does not respond to the dispatcher on the portion obtained by the TMZ — and it’s unclear whether he was inside his patrol cruiser or was outside the vehicle nearby.
The deputy — who has not been publicly identified — has been removed from duty as an internal investigation unfolds, department officials said.
“The deputy was immediately relieved of duty and an administrative investigation has been opened,” sheriff’s officials told The Post in a statement early Wednesday. “The deputy’s peace officer powers have been suspended and proper administrative action will be taken, based on the outcome of the investigation.”
A sheriff’s department spokesman declined to release additional information when reached for comment, including how long the deputy has been employed by the department.


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Coronavirus set to make 2020 deadliest year in US history

The new mutation of COVID-19 found in the UK may ...

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The coronavirus pandemic is set to make 2020 the deadliest year in US history.
While final data will not be available for months, preliminary numbers suggest the US saw more than 3.2 million deaths this year, which is at least 400,000 more than in 2019 — a figure that could still go higher, according to the Associated Press.
It marks a jump of 15%, the largest single-year percentage leap since 1918, when tens of thousands of US soldiers died in World War I and hundreds of thousands died of Spanish flu.
As of Wednesday morning, COVID-19 has taken 322,849 lives in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University data, with the country still seeing record spikes.
It has at times been the number one killer ahead of heart disease and cancer — and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes it may be responsible for many more than those so far counted.
A burst of pneumonia cases early this year may have been COVID-19 deaths that simply weren’t recognized as such early in the epidemic, according to Robert Anderson, the CDC official who oversees death statistics.
An unexpected number of deaths from certain types of heart and circulatory diseases, diabetes and dementia may also be tied to the pandemic, attributed to patients already weakened by those conditions and diminished care they received because of lockdowns.
Suicide deaths dropped in 2019 compared with 2018, but Anderson said the encouraging trend did not appear to have continued this year, a rise that some attribute to the loneliness of lockdowns and exacerbation of existing mental health conditions.
Drug overdose deaths, meanwhile, also appear to have risen — with the 81,000 recorded in the 12 months ending in May the highest number ever in a one-year period.
Experts blame the pandemic’s disruption to in-person treatment and recovery services, as well as people abusing drugs while home alone, without anyone able to call for help.
But perhaps the biggest factor is that COVID-19 caused supply problems for dealers, leaving them increasingly to mix cheap and deadly fentanyl into heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, experts said.
“I don’t suspect there are a bunch of new people who suddenly started using drugs because of COVID. If anything, I think the supply of people who are already using drugs is more contaminated,” said Shannon Monnat, a Syracuse University researcher who studies overdose trends.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--New Zealand man who killed backpacker Grace Millane had attacked other women

The mother of British backpacker Grace Millane , who was strangled ...

A New Zealand man who was convicted of murdering his Tinder date, British backpacker Grace Millane, also committed violent sex crimes against two other women before her murder, a court has revealed.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned orders banning Jesse Shane Kempson, 28, from being identified as the predator who strangled Millane in December 2018, according to Agence France-Presse.
The orders against reporting Kempson’s name remained in place even after his murder conviction in November 2019, with the court offering no explanation at the time for the highly unusual move.
But on Tuesday, it was revealed that Kempson was still facing two trials for sexual offenses when the Millane verdict was announced — and the court feared that identifying him could prejudice those proceedings, AFP reported.
In the first case, Kempson was convicted of sexual violation, assault and threatening to kill his former partner as he reportedly held a knife to her throat. He was sentenced to 7½ years in prison.
The second resulted in a rape conviction involving another woman whom he met on the dating app. He was sentenced to 3½ years in prison.
Kempson was sentenced to a total of 11 years behind bars for the sex crimes — to be served concurrently with the sentence of life with a 17-year non-parole period for Millane’s murder.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard said the “callous, narcissistic” sex offender may have even more victims.
“There could well be other women out there who Grace’s killer may have offended against,” he told TVNZ, according to AFP. “If they’re not sure what to do, come to the police and speak to us.”
Last week, the court rejected Kempson’s appeal against the Millane murder verdict.
Millane vanished on the eve of her 22nd birthday after arriving in Auckland while on an around-the-world trip after she graduated from college.
She had met her killer for the first time on the evening of her death after matching with him on Tinder.
He stuffed her body into a suitcase, drove to the Waitakere Ranges forest and buried her in a shallow grave, where police found it a week later.
During the trial, Kempson’s lawyers claimed she accidentally choked during a sex game gone wrong, but the jury rejected the defense and found him guilty.
The case has prompted British lawmakers to ban the so-called “rough sex defense” in sexual violence cases, with women’s advocates pushing for similar reforms in New Zealand.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--How Christmas Movies Explain Hollywood History

As one is wont to do in the holiday season , when films and TV specials are scattered across different TV channels , streamers and platforms , I made a list of the top Christmas films to watch this year .
Running through the list , I noticed this crazy stretch : Those may not be your favorite Christmas films , but all are on my must watch list .
( Particularly Christmas Vacation , which my family has watched so many times we can quote nearly every line . )
In this seven-year stretch , six of the greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What creative juices aligned to make such a great run of Christmas films ?
Well , it wasn ’ t anything creative at all .
These films were made by different studios ( Paramount , Warner Bros , Fox and Disney respectively ) and mostly by different filmmakers .
Instead , they reflect that in the late 1980s , film studios started producing more films than they had in the decade before .
Why ?
Because VHS tapes were gaining widespread adoption in the 1980s .
More films meant a better chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that wouldn ’ t have been economical a few years before .
This isn ’ t the only example of economics and technology shaping the films we watch .
Indeed , the history of Hollywood can be told through the history of Christmas films .
As the studios have adopted various new distribution technologies , the Christmas films and TV shows/specials we watch have adapted with them .
Marshall McLuhan said “ The medium is the message ” and we can see that in Christmas films .
As the medium evolves , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evolve with it .
RELATED : The 12 Best Christmas Movies of All Time

As one is wont to do in the holiday season, when films and TV specials are scattered across different TV channels, streamers and platforms, I made a list of the top Christmas films to watch this year. Running through the list, I noticed this crazy stretch:
Those may not be your favorite Christmas films, but all are on my must watch list. (Particularly Christmas Vacation, which my family has watched so many times we can quote nearly every line.) In this seven-year stretch, six of the greatest Christmas movies of all time were released.
What creative juices aligned to make such a great run of Christmas films? Well, it wasn’t anything creative at all. These films were made by different studios (Paramount, Warner Bros, Fox and Disney respectively) and mostly by different filmmakers. Instead, they reflect that in the late 1980s, film studios started producing more films than they had in the decade before. Why? Because VHS tapes were gaining widespread adoption in the 1980s. More films meant a better chance for a run of great Christmas films that wouldn’t have been economical a few years before.
This isn’t the only example of economics and technology shaping the films we watch. Indeed, the history of Hollywood can be told through the history of Christmas films.
As the studios have adopted various new distribution technologies, the Christmas films and TV shows/specials we watch have adapted with them. Marshall McLuhan said “The medium is the message” and we can see that in Christmas films. As the medium evolves, our Christmas films, TV shows and specials evolve with it.
Hollywood’s Golden Age: 1930s to 1950s Christmas Canon: It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, Holiday Inn Before there was a “theatrical” window, there were just theaters. They were the only game in town. Eventually Hollywood made films for Christmas. Bing Crosby defined many Christmas classics and popularized them in films like Holiday Inn and later White Christmas. Miracle on 34th Street helped develop the Santa Claus mythos even further. Film critics can thank Frank Capra for creating the Christmas-adjacent film (meaning no Santa Claus) with It’s a Wonderful Life. (And there are even more films for classic film buffs, like The Bishop’s Wife, Meet Me in St. Louis and The Shop Around the Corner. HBO Max has the best collection of these classic films.) As I said, the medium is the message, and we can see the impact on that in this first generation of Hollywood films. For the most part these films are skewed towards adults. They touch on themes of Christmas, but these aren’t children’s films. (The closest is Miracle on 34th Street.) Also, unlike later years, these films feature the tippity-top of A-List talent, like Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, and Bing Crosby.
The Rise of Broadcast TV: 1960s to 1970s Christmas Canon: Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rankin/Bass: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, The Year Without a Santa Claus As TV displaced film as the medium that everyone watched every night, it too needed its own Christmas programming during the holidays. For the most part, much like now, this meant Holiday variety specials. Yet, these one-off performances don’t lend themselves to repeat viewing (again, the medium is the message), so broadcasters needed something else. Thus, the birth of the animated TV special. These specials served a couple of purposes. First, they were targeted at children, who in the 1960s didn’t have any other channels to watch. The specials were designed to appeal to them. Like today, kids can often drive viewing (and buying) decisions. Second, while TV was a growth industry, it wasn’t that big compared to films. Everyone got it for free after all. This meant that specials were limited in scope (usually under 30 minutes) and budget (animated, usually fairly cheaply). The rise of TV also invented the first “window”, meaning the specific distribution method to watch a given film. Films would start in theaters and then later be aired on television, giving studios two chances to make money. Of the Golden Era Christmas films, the biggest beneficiary was It’s a Wonderful Life. Initially a box office dud—though it was nominated for a Best Picture—it entered the public domain due to a clerical error in 1974 and had a second life on TV through constant replay, since it was cheap.
The Rise of Home Entertainment: 1980s to 2000s VHS Christmas Canon: Home Alone, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Muppet’s Christmas Carol, Scrooged, The Santa Clause DVD Christmas Canon: Elf, Love Actually, The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas If you’re debating the greatest stretches for Christmas films, arguably from 1988, when Scrooged came out, to 2003, when Elf and Love Actually hit theaters is the best run of Christmas Films. Why? Because VHS and then DVDs allowed more films to be made by Hollywood at higher budgets. I’d add, this was a boom in films that folks commonly say, “Don’t get made anymore.” So rom-coms (Love Actually), comedies (Christmas Vacation, Elf) and family films that aren’t animated (Home Alone) are all examples of films that have been displaced by the rise of the blockbuster. Why? Because DVDs were so incredibly valuable. At their peak, in just the United States, DVD sales were $16.3 billion, of which the studios collected a big chunk. Now? Physical discs like DVD and Blu-Ray are only $2.2 billion business. This meant that theatrical films roughly made $6 billion more dollars for their studios in the U.S. than they do now. All that extra cash allowed smaller films to compete for smaller niches of customers. (Even a film that didn’t “win the weekend” against a blockbuster film could still make tens of millions in DVD sales, justifying its theatrical release.)
The Dominance of Cable: Late 2000s to Mid-2010s Christmas Canon: Too many Hallmark and Lifetime films to count. The rise of home entertainment was also accompanied by a shift in TV consumption as well. Before the 1980s, folks needed an antenna to receive a signal. By the 2000s, most everyone was connected to cable in the ground. Since TV cables aren’t restricted by spectrum space, the number of channels skyrocketed into the hundreds. For years, this boom didn’t really impact Christmas films. And then the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime went all in on the holidays. That’s right, Hallmark and Lifetime adopted, I’ll say it, cheesy Christmas movies as their thing. Every year they cranked these films out by the dozens. Every year. These films follow a few tropes (one of the two leads is disenchanted with Christmas, the other loves it, eventually they fall in love. Often royalty is involved. Or a small town.) but these films get the ratings. Lots and lots of eyeballs. And the medium is still the message. Cable TV channels can’t afford to make even $20 million dollar budget films, so all the Lifetime and Hallmark films are made the lowest level budgets and filmed quickly. At about $1.5-2.5 million per film and shot in 3 weeks, in other words you could make 5-10 of these movies for one episode of The Mandalorian. They also tend to be shorter than regular movies, again to limit costs and because the cable channels sell advertising in the breaks. Cable as well provided a new window for the films of the home entertainment boom. Cable channels like Freeform (formerly ABC Family), AMC, and others air films like Elf, Scrooged and The Santa Clause around the clock during December. This helped cement these films in the Christmas Canon the way round-the-clock airings of It’s a Wonderful Life cemented it in the canon. Of course, now we can choose when and how to watch what we want…


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Rachel Zoe’s son Skyler speaks out after ski lift fall

`` Sky is in great spirits but sore and banged up ...

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Skyler Berman, the 9-year-old son of Rachel Zoe and husband Rodger Berman, said Tuesday he is “doing pretty well” following a 40-foot fall from a ski chair lift.
In a video posted to Zoe’s Instagram account, Skyler stated he can walk, run and “go upside down,” while rolling himself into a ball on the couch.
“Besides that, my neck is a little sore, but I’m doing pretty well, I’m doing pretty good,” he continued in the clip. “Thank you guys for looking out for me.”
On Monday, 52-year-old Zoe revealed her older son was recovering after a fall in Colorado.
“Sky fell 40 feet from a chair life yesterday which could have been easily prevented if the operator had stopped the lift when he saw Sky wasn’t on from the start and @rbermanus screaming to stop the lift,” the fashion designer detailed on social media.
Zoe said Tuesday she and her family have “endless gratitude” for the prayers and well-wishes.
“Sky is the bravest little soul that was indeed saved by an angel 👼🏼 🙏🏻 ,” Zoe added.
“He wanted me to share this video today because he felt bad so many people were so worried about him,” she continued.
Zoe and Berman are also parents to 7-year-old son Kaius. They have been married since 1996.


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Scotland’s leader Nicola Sturgeon admits breaking own COVID mask rules

Scotland ’ s leader on Wednesday admitted breaking her own strict COVID-19 rules after she was photographed in a pub without a mask .
“ This was a stupid mistake and I ’ m really sorry , ” First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said after the Scottish edition of The Sun published a front page photo of her talking to a group of women last Friday without a face covering .
“ I talk every day about the importance of masks , so I ’ m not going to offer any excuses , ” said the leader of the Scottish Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ m kicking myself , and I ’ m sorry , ” she said .
Sturgeon , the leader of the Scottish National Party , admitted the mistake only after The Sun showed her talking to a group of women in a pub following a funeral in Edinburgh last week .
It was printed just a day after Sturgeon made her latest speech in the Scottish parliament about the importance of wearing masks .
Under a law passed by her party , customers in pubs and restaurants must cover their faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political rivals , the Scottish Conservatives , tweeted out The Sun ’ s front cover , saying that Sturgeon “ should know better.
” “ There can not be one rule for Nicola Sturgeon and another for everyone else , ” the party said .

Scotland’s leader on Wednesday admitted breaking her own strict COVID-19 rules after she was photographed in a pub without a mask.
“This was a stupid mistake and I’m really sorry,” First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said after the Scottish edition of the Sun published a front-page photo of her talking to a group of women last Friday without a face covering.
“I talk every day about the importance of masks, so I’m not going to offer any excuses,” said the leader of the Scottish government.
“I was in the wrong, I’m kicking myself, and I’m sorry,” she said.
Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party, admitted the mistake only after the Sun showed her talking to a group of women in a pub following a funeral in Edinburgh last week.
It was printed just a day after Sturgeon made her latest speech in the Scottish parliament about the importance of wearing masks. Under a law passed by her party, customers in pubs and restaurants must cover their faces unless seated at a table.
Her political rivals, the Scottish Conservatives, tweeted out the Sun’s front cover, saying that Sturgeon “should know better.”
“There cannot be one rule for Nicola Sturgeon and another for everyone else,” the party said.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--One in five Shopify stores reportedly pose a risk to shoppers

So many scammers and fraudsters have infested Shopify that roughly a fifth of the e-commerce platform ’ s stores pose a risk to customers , according to reports .
An analysis by e-commerce authentication service Fakespot found red flags with nearly 26,000 of the 124,000 Shopify stores it examined , the BBC reported .
Fakespot called about 39 percent of those sketchy stores “ problematic sellers , ” meaning they were hawking counterfeit goods , possibly infringing on brands or had poor reputations , according to Yahoo Finance .
Another 28 percent were seen as possible scam shops with suspiciously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlet reported .
Close to 17 percent of the potentially fraudulent stores had received negative reports from customers , and 10 percent had no transaction history at all , Fakespot reportedly found .
“ With the trajectory of Shopify ’ s growth , there comes a point in time when they will need to tackle this problem very seriously , ” Fakespot CEO Saoud Khalifah told the Financial Times , adding that many of the suspicious stores appeared to be China-based sellers posing as American businesses .
The reported findings come during an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by increased demand for online shopping as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
Merchants on the platform raked in a record $ 2.4 billion in sales on Black Friday alone this year , marking a 75 percent surge from last year ’ s levels , Shopify said last month .
Shopify did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Wednesday .
But the Canada-based company told the BBC that it is already working to root out fraudsters .
“ We recognize there will be those — however few they may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than one million merchants — that may abuse our service , and we take this matter seriously , ” Shopify told the network .
“ To date , we have terminated thousands of stores and routinely implement new measures to address fraud and other activities that violate our policies.
” Fakespot also did not immediately respond to The Post ’ s request for comment Wednesday morning .

So many scammers and fraudsters have infested Shopify that roughly a fifth of the e-commerce platform’s stores pose a risk to customers, an analysis has found.
E-commerce authentication service Fakespot says it discovered red flags with nearly 26,000 of the 124,000 Shopify stores it examined. Some of the merchants are selling fake products or pirated media, while others snap up customers’ data without delivering their orders at all, said Fakespot CEO Saoud Khalifah.
“It’s so easy to set up a storefront, it’s so easy to start selling product, it’s so easy to make it look like a legitimate store — and you have these malicious shops that do the same thing,” Khalifah told The Post.
Fakespot called about 39 percent of the sketchy stores “problematic sellers,” meaning they were hawking counterfeit goods, possibly infringing on brands or had poor reputations. Another 28 percent were described as scam shops with suspiciously cheap listings and privacy leaks, the firm said.
Close to 17 percent of the potentially fraudulent stores had received negative reports from customers, and about 10 percent had no transaction history at all, according to Fakespot’s analysis, which was first reported by the Financial Times this week.
Many of the suspect merchants have registered their businesses in the US but are actually based in China and other east Asian countries, Khalifah said.
The findings come during an explosion in Shopify’s business fueled by increased demand for online shopping as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Merchants on the platform raked in a record $2.4 billion in sales on Black Friday alone this year, marking a 75 percent surge from last year’s levels, Shopify said last month.
While Shopify’s simple process for creating store has helped drive that growth, it’s come with an increase in fraud that the company will need to rein in, according to Khalifah.
“If they would put more protective measures — you need to prove your identity, you need to prove this, you need to prove that — it’s much more difficult to get that ease of access and that ease of onboarding that has been powering Shopify throughout the years,” he said.
But Shopify says it already has multiple teams who handle fraud complaints, copyright and trademark issues, and potential violations of its acceptable use policy. The Canada-based company has also terminated thousands of stores and regularly implements new anti-fraud measures, a spokesperson said.
“We developed our platform to lower the barriers to entrepreneurship and to enable businesses to own the relationship with their customers,” the Shopify spokesperson said in a statement. “As with every noble intention, we recognize there will be those — however few they may be relative to our base of more than one million merchants — that may abuse our service, and we take this matter seriously.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Democrats throw support behind Trump’s $2,000 stimulus check demand

Democrats are rallying around President Trump ’ s call for Congress to amend the COVID relief bill to increase direct payments to Americans from $ 600 to $ 2,000 .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) responded to the commander-in-chief ’ s Tuesday night video where he outlined his demands with an eager , “ Let ’ s do it !
” “ Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks .
At last , the President has agreed to $ 2,000 — Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the social media platform .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) echoed Pelosi ’ s readiness to up the amount each American would receive , but whined about Republicans in the process .
“ We spent months trying to secure $ 2000 checks but Republicans blocked it , ” the New York Democrat tweeted , “ Trump needs to sign the bill to help people and keep the government open and we ’ re glad to pass more aid Americans need.
” Left wing leaders too cheered the news , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work on the effort .
“ That ’ s great !
I first introduced a bill to provide a $ 2,000 direct payment with @ SenKamalaHarris & @ EdMarkey 7 months ago , ” Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) tweeted late Tuesday , also writing “ Let ’ s do it.
” The Vermont senator went on to call on the president to convince his Senate Republican colleagues to back paying each American more .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) also stood ready to back Trump ’ s efforts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Rashida Tlaib ( D-Mich. ) had the bill language written .
“ Let ’ s do it .
@ RashidaTlaib and I already co-wrote the COVID amendment for $ 2,000 checks , so it ’ s ready to go .
Glad to see the President is willing to support our legislation , ” she wrote .
“ We can pass $ 2k checks this week if the Senate GOP agrees to stand down , ” she added .
And even Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff — who has no vote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s call , tweeting “ $ 2,000 checks now.
” For months , Congress remained at a standstill over the next round of legislation .
Talks were revived by a bipartisan group of senators and House members after the November election .
Eventually , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , along with fellow members of House and Senate leadership , pledged that the chambers would not break for Christmas without the package being pushed through .

It could be a Christmas miracle.
Democrats rallied around President Trump’s call for Congress to amend the $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill to increase direct payments to eligible Americans from $600 to $2,000, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested he could call Republican leaders and have them on board as soon as Thursday.
“Mr. President, sign the bill to keep government open! Urge McConnell and McCarthy to agree with the Democratic unanimous consent request for $2,000 direct payments!,” Pelosi wrote on Twitter Wednesday, referring to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
“This can be done by noon on Christmas Eve!,” she said.
Trump called the bipartisan relief bill a “disgrace” on Tuesday night and told congressional lawmakers to amend the bill and “increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple,” while suggesting he would torpedo it if the changes weren’t made.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) immediately responded on Twitter: “Let’s do it!”
The coronavirus relief bill, the subject of months of negotiations between party leaders and the White House, was packaged together with a $1.4 trillion measure to keep the government open until September.
The deadline to avert a government shutdown is Dec. 29.
But the sprawling 5,585-page relief bill is still being prepared by Congress and won’t likely make it to the president’s desk until Thursday or Friday.
Complicating the matter further is that Trump is expected to leave Washington later Wednesday afternoon to travel to his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago for the holidays.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Republicans, silent on Wednesday about Trump’s surprise video trashing the relief bill, held a conference call in the afternoon.
But Democrats were joyous and dared Republicans to oppose Trump.
“We spent months trying to secure $2000 checks but Republicans blocked it,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted. “Trump needs to sign the bill to help people and keep the government open and we’re glad to pass more aid Americans need.”
Left-wing leaders cheered the news, and said they were ready to get to work on the effort.
“That’s great! I first introduced a bill to provide a $2,000 direct payment with @SenKamalaHarris & @EdMarkey 7 months ago,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tweeted late Tuesday, also writing, “Let’s do it.”
President Trump Evan Vucci/AP
The Vermont senator went on to call on the president to convince his Senate Republican colleagues to back paying each American more.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also stood ready to back Trump’s efforts, saying she and fellow “Squad” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) had the bill language written.
“Let’s do it. @RashidaTlaib and I already co-wrote the COVID amendment for $2,000 checks, so it’s ready to go. Glad to see the President is willing to support our legislation,” she wrote.
“We can pass $2k checks this week if the Senate GOP agrees to stand down,” she added.
And even Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Jon Ossoff — who has no vote in the matter — supported Trump’s call, tweeting, “$2,000 checks now.”
For months, Congress remained at a standstill over the next round of legislation. Talks were revived by a bipartisan group of senators and House members after the November election.
Eventually, McConnell (R-Ky.), along with fellow members of House and Senate leadership, pledged that the chambers would not break for Christmas without the package being pushed through.


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Listen to Episode 25 of ‘Big Apple Buckets’: Knicks Season Preview, Predictions

The NBA season has begun just in time for the holidays .
The New York Knicks get their 2020-21 season underway on Wednesday when they take on the Pacers in Indiana .
Tom Thibodeau will coach a young Knicks team that will probably go through some bumps and bruises , especially without a star on their roster .
There might not be fans at Madison Square Garden , but there is a sense of excitement from Knicks fans watching rookies like Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley .
Speaking of excitement , we are excited at the New York Post to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Big Apple Buckets ” with new hosts Sal Licata and Jerome Williams aka “ The Junk Yard Dog.
” Licata is a lifelong Knicks fan , hosts on WFAN and is on SNY regularly .
JYD played for the Knicks for one season in 2004-05 to finish off his nine-year NBA playing career .
New episodes of the podcast will be released every Tuesday afternoon .
• Jerome playing like he was on ’ 90s Knicks .
Rick Mahorn , Charles Oakley , Otis Thorpe inspiring JYD to play the hard-nosed basketball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard under new head coach Tom Thibodeau .
What impact will Thibs have on this young Knicks roster ?
Comes from that Jeff Van Gundy tree , play strong defense .
Superstar not here yet , but team is creating an identity this season that plays hard and plays defense .
• 12 Days of Knicksmas : Going through the top 12 players on the Knicks roster , what they want to see from these guys , how they can improve , what their role will be .
• What will the Knicks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it change throughout season ?
• Sal , JYD and I give out our predictions for the Knicks this season and what two teams will meet in the NBA Finals .
Sal says 31 wins…can they win that many ?
Inside The Dog House : JYD takes us inside The Dog House , telling a preseason story from his season with the Knicks when a young Trevor Ariza got mad at Tim Thomas , started throwing punches and brought out a stick .
Catch up on all episodes of “ Big Apple Buckets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts .
New episodes of the show drop Tuesday afternoons .

NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA season has begun just in time for the holidays. The New York Knicks get their 2020-21 season underway on Wednesday when they take on the Pacers in Indiana. Tom Thibodeau will coach a young Knicks team that will probably go through some bumps and bruises, especially without a star on their roster. There might not be fans at Madison Square Garden, but there is a sense of excitement from Knicks fans watching rookies like Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley.
Speaking of excitement, we are excited at the New York Post to debut Season 2 of our Knicks podcast “Big Apple Buckets” with new hosts Sal Licata and Jerome Williams aka “The Junk Yard Dog.” Licata is a lifelong Knicks fan, hosts on WFAN and is on SNY regularly. JYD played for the Knicks for one season in 2004-05 to finish off his nine-year NBA playing career. New episodes of the podcast will be released every Tuesday afternoon.
Big Apple Buckets 2020-21 Season Preview with Sal Licata and Jerome “The Junk Yard Dog” Williams :
Jerome playing like he was on ’90s Knicks. Rick Mahorn, Charles Oakley, Otis Thorpe inspiring JYD to play the hard-nosed basketball he played.
Knicks will play hard under new head coach Tom Thibodeau. What impact will Thibs have on this young Knicks roster? Comes from that Jeff Van Gundy tree, play strong defense. Superstar not here yet, but team is creating an identity this season that plays hard and plays defense.
12 Days of Knicksmas: Going through the top 12 players on the Knicks roster, what they want to see from these guys, how they can improve, what their role will be.
What will the Knicks’ starting five look like? Will it change throughout season?
Sal, JYD and I give out our predictions for the Knicks this season and what two teams will meet in the NBA Finals. Sal says 31 wins…can they win that many?
Inside The Dog House: JYD takes us inside The Dog House, telling a preseason story from his season with the Knicks when a young Trevor Ariza got mad at Tim Thomas, started throwing punches and brought out a stick.
SUBSCRIBE ON:
Catch up on all episodes of “Big Apple Buckets,” a New York Knicks podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes of the show drop Tuesday afternoons.


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Merck to supply feds with COVID-19 drug under $356M deal

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Merck has reached a multimillion-dollar deal to supply the feds with a coronavirus drug it ’ s developing to treat severely ill patients , the company said Wednesday .
The government will pay the New Jersey-based drugmaker up to about $ 356 million for roughly 60,000 to 100,000 doses of the drug known as MK-7110 , according to a news release .
A late-stage clinical trial of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has shown the experimental treatment gave sick people a 60 percent better chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placebo and reduced the risk of death or respiratory failure by more than 50 percent , Merck said .
“ Building upon the promising clinical findings to date for MK-7110 , Merck is pleased to be collaborating with the US government to advance the manufacture and distribution of this candidate for patients with serious COVID-19 disease , ” Dr. Roger M. Perlmutter , president of Merck Research Laboratories , said in a statement .
Merck ’ s deal with the feds is part of the Trump administration ’ s Operation Warp Speed initiative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development of treatments and vaccines for the deadly COVID-19 bug .
The supply deal runs through the end of June and depends on the drug winning an emergency use authorization or full approval from the Food and Drug Administration , according to the company .
The federal funding will also cover manufacturing costs , Merck said .
Merck acquired MK-7110 when it made a deal last month to buy OncoImmune , the pharmaceutical firm behind the drug .
The treatment , originally named CD24Fc , uses something called a recombinant fusion protein to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
The drug is believed to put a check on the immune system , which can overreact when people get infected with the virus , according to STAT news .
Merck acquired MK-7110 when it made a deal last month to buy OncoImmune , the pharmaceutical firm behind the drug .
The treatment was originally named CD24Fc .
Merck shares rose about 0.3 percent in premarket trading to $ 79.70 as of 7:17 a.m .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Merck has reached a multimillion-dollar deal to supply the feds with a coronavirus drug it’s developing to treat severely ill patients, the company said Wednesday.
The government will pay the New Jersey-based drugmaker up to about $356 million for roughly 60,000 to 100,000 doses of the drug known as MK-7110, according to a news release.
A late-stage clinical trial of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has shown the experimental treatment gave sick people a 60 percent better chance of improving their condition compared to a placebo and reduced the risk of death or respiratory failure by more than 50 percent, Merck said.
“Building upon the promising clinical findings to date for MK-7110, Merck is pleased to be collaborating with the US government to advance the manufacture and distribution of this candidate for patients with serious COVID-19 disease,” Dr. Roger M. Perlmutter, president of Merck Research Laboratories, said in a statement.
Merck’s deal with the feds is part of the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed initiative, which aims to speed up the development of treatments and vaccines for the deadly COVID-19 bug.
The supply deal runs through the end of June and depends on the drug winning an emergency use authorization or full approval from the Food and Drug Administration, according to the company. The federal funding will also cover manufacturing costs, Merck said.
Merck acquired MK-7110 when it made a deal last month to buy OncoImmune, the pharmaceutical firm behind the drug.
The treatment, originally named CD24Fc, uses something called a recombinant fusion protein to regulate the body’s response to COVID-19. The drug is believed to put a check on the immune system, which can overreact when people get infected with the virus, according to STAT news.
Merck shares rose about 0.3 percent in premarket trading to $79.70 as of 7:17 a.m.


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Pharmacist reportedly injected with four doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

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An Israeli pharmacist is really protected against COVID-19 – after being accidentally injected with four doses of the Pfizer shot , according to a report .
Uday Azizi , a Maccabi Healthcare Services pharmacist , said he was feeling fine after being sent to a hospital to be monitored because he mistakenly received the extra amounts , the Times of Israel reported .
The healthcare worker who administered the jab apparently did not realize that each Pfizer vial contains several doses — usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the outlet .
Azizi said he has so far only experienced mild , common side effects — local pain and some redness at the injection site .
“ I have no problem with again getting four doses , ” he said .
“ Let ’ s be optimistic… about the vaccine , the entire situation and the new year maybe.
” The pharmacist said he will likely still have to receive the second dose of the vaccine in three weeks — and encouraged others not to be afraid of the inoculation @

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
An Israeli pharmacist is really protected against COVID-19 — after being accidentally injected with four doses of the Pfizer shot, according to a report.
Uday Azizi, a Maccabi Healthcare Services pharmacist, said he was feeling fine after being sent to a hospital to be monitored because he mistakenly received the extra amounts, the Times of Israel reported.
The health care worker who administered the jab apparently did not realize that each Pfizer vial contains several doses — usually five, but sometimes even more, according to the outlet.
Azizi said he has so far only experienced mild, common side effects — local pain and some redness at the injection site.
“I have no problem with again getting four doses,” he said. “Let’s be optimistic … about the vaccine, the entire situation and the new year maybe.”
A medical staff member prepares to inject the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Tel Aviv, Israel. Ariel Schalit/AP
The pharmacist said he will likely still have to receive the second dose of the vaccine in three weeks — and encouraged others not to be afraid of the inoculation.


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Cops surprise selfless kid with video game system

When this 10-year-old boy said he ’ d forgo his own Christmas present in order to help out his dad @ @ @ @ @ New York , delivered .
Not only did the staff at a local car dealership @ @ @ @ @ father with a new vehicle , the Rome Police PBA gave the kid the video @ @ @ @ @ part of their Shop With a Cop program .

When this 10-year-old boy said he’d forgo his own Christmas present in order to help out his dad, police in Rome, New York, delivered. Not only did the staff at a local car dealership present the boy's father with a new vehicle, the Rome Police PBA gave the kid the video game system he wanted as part of their Shop With a Cop program.
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newyorkpost--2020-12-23--EMT who gave CPR to United passenger with COVID-19 says he now has symptoms

Tony Aldapa , who is an EMT , said he and two ...

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An off-duty EMT who performed CPR on a United Airline passenger who later died of COVID-19 has revealed that he is now showing symptoms of the deadly virus — and feels like he “got hit by a train,” according to a report.
Tony Aldapa was among the passengers who tried to revive Isaias Hernandez, 69, who collapsed on an Orlando-to-Los Angeles flight Monday, even after the man’s wife admitted he had coronavirus symptoms.
On Tuesday, Jefferson Parish Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich determined that Hernandez died of COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure.
“It was all kind of just second nature to see someone in a bad place, you try to bring them out of the bad place,” Aldapa told CBS Los Angeles.
“There were three of us that were essentially tag-teaming doing chest compressions — probably about 45 minutes,” the emergency medical technician said.
Hernandez’s wife later admitted that her husband had symptoms of the killer bug before getting on the flight and was heading home to get tested.
“She told me he had symptoms, he was short of breath and she just wanted to get him home and they planned on getting tested this week,” Aldapa told the station.
After making an emergency landing to get the man to a hospital, where he died, the flight continued on to LA.
Aldapa is now worried he has contracted the disease.
“Essentially I just feel like I got hit by a train,” he told CBS LA. “I had a cough, my whole body still hurt, I had a headache.”
Meanwhile, TMZ has reported that United still has not notified the 179 passengers on the flight that Hernandez had COVID-19, saying it is not its responsibility.
An airline rep told the outlet that they have been in touch with the CDC and provided the agency with the flight manifest — adding that it’s up to the CDC to contact passengers who may have been exposed.
United said it was initially informed that the passenger suffered cardiac arrest, but didn’t know of his possible COVID-19 symptoms, according to CBS LA.
“We are sharing requested information with the (CDC) so they can work with local health officials to conduct outreach to any customer the CDC believes may be at risk for possible exposure or infection,” United said in a statement.
Airline passengers are required to fill out a form in which they acknowledge they have not tested positive or experienced symptoms in the previous 14 days, but proof is not required.
Aldapa told the CBS affiliate that the CDC has not yet reached out to him.
In a statement to the station, the agency said it “is in the process of collecting information and proceeding according to our standard operating procedures to determine if further public health action is appropriate.
“To protect the privacy of the individual, we aren’t providing this information to the public,” the CDC added.


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Famous brands close their NYC shops in record numbers

The Cuomo administration is moving ahead with a planned increase ...

The Big Apple saw almost one in seven nationally recognized chain-store branches close their doors as the pandemic sent consumers scurrying for cover, according to a new report.
A record high 1,057 chain stores — including 70 Duane Reades, 49 Starbucks and 22 Papyruses — have waved the white flag over the past 12 months, according to the Center for an Urban Future’s annual “State of the Chains” report, set to be released Wednesday.
The 13.3 percent decline shatters all previous records reported by the nonprofit agency since it began tracking the data 13 years ago. Last year, just 3.7 percent of all chain outlets closed, up from 0.3 percent in 2018.
“If the national chains are scaling back like this, I have to imagine it’s twice as bad for mom-and-pop stores, who don’t have the same ability to weather a storm or get access to financing,” said the center’s executive director, Jonathan Bowles.
Manhattan absorbed the deepest cuts with 520 chain closures — almost half of the city total — due to the borough’s dependence on office workers, tourists and wealthy residents who have decamped to homes outside the city.
Midtown East, a swath that covers Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue up to 60th Street, suffered the biggest blow with a 23 percent decline in stores.
Among the hardest-hit sectors were sandwich shops that cater to office workers, many of whom since March have been able to work from home, according to the report.
Dunkin’ Donuts, which changed its name to just Dunkin in 2019, remains the Big Apple’s biggest retail chain with 608 locations, the report said. But the popular chain also lost a record 18 stores, marking its first year-over-year decline.
Gyms and pharmacies also suffered as people exercised more at home and increasingly turned to the internet to buy basic necessities like toothpaste.
SoulCycle, owned by billionaire President Trump supporter Stephen Ross, has closed all 21 of its indoor facilities in the city — though its website offers spin classes at three outdoor locations, including a Tribeca rooftop.
Other popular chains to close a significant number of outlets include:
Duane Reade/Walgreens, which closed 70 of 247 outlets.
Starbucks: closed 49 of 351 outlets.
GNC: 51 of 99.
Subway Restaurants: 30 of 287.
MAC Cosmetics: 25 of 34.
Le Pain Quotidien: 14 of 37.
Victoria’s Secret: 9 of 22.
Old Navy: 6 of 23.
Shake Shack: 5 of 25.
But it’s not all doom and gloom.
Some 40 chains actually added locations, led by Popeyes fried-chicken fast food, which added 11 new eateries.
And Bowles believes there’s a chance that much of the food-sector decline is only temporary, assuming a large number of workers return to their offices when the pandemic eases.
The closures could also spark a new generation of business owners seeking to become big-brand franchisees.
“We are going to see a new wave of entrepreneurship,” Bowles said.
“People who were fortunate enough not to have businesses at this time, and we also might see some chains go into different parts of the city that were not as hard hit as Manhattan.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Three French cops killed responding to domestic violence call

Three French police officers were shot dead and a fourth was injured early Wednesday while trying to help a woman who fled to the roof of a house during a domestic violence incident , authorities said .
The shooter was identified as a 48-year-old man .
He allegedly fired at two of the cops shortly after midnight , as they approached his house in a rural village near Saint-Just in Central France , Agence France-Presse reported .
One of the officers died of his injuries while the other was taken to a hospital with a wound to his thigh .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ house as backup officers arrived — and shot two more cops , killing them , the Clermont-Ferrand prosecutor ’ s office told AFP .
The officers killed were aged 21 , 37 and 45 , France ’ s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said in a statement .
Authorities were able to bring the woman to safety .
The alleged shooter , meanwhile , was still on the run at around 7 a.m. local time .
He is known to law enforcement in the area for acts related to child custody issues , sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor of the town of Saint-Just , said during an interview on French TV that a family dispute appeared to have sparked the incident .
Police were evacuating nearby residents and securing the area , Chautard said on BFMTV , adding that the house had been “ completely destroyed by the fire .
”

Three French police officers were shot dead and a fourth was injured early Wednesday while trying to help a woman who fled to the roof of a house during a domestic violence incident, authorities said.
The shooter was identified as a 48-year-old man.
He allegedly fired at two of the cops shortly after midnight, as they approached his house in a rural village near Saint-Just in Central France, Agence France-Presse reported.
One of the officers died of his injuries while the other was taken to a hospital with a wound to his thigh.
The madman then set fire to his house as backup officers arrived — and shot two more cops, killing them, the Clermont-Ferrand prosecutor’s office told AFP.
The officers killed were aged 21, 37 and 45, France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said in a statement.
Authorities were able to bring the woman to safety.
The alleged shooter, meanwhile, was still on the run at around 7 a.m. local time.
He is known to law enforcement in the area for acts related to child custody issues, sources told AFP.
François Chautard, the mayor of the town of Saint-Just, said during an interview on French TV that a family dispute appeared to have sparked the incident.
Police were evacuating nearby residents and securing the area, Chautard said on BFMTV, adding that the house had been “completely destroyed by the fire.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--Three skiers found dead after pair of Colorado avalanches

Three skiers were found dead and buried in snow this weekend following a series of avalanches in the Colorado backcountry .
The deaths happened on Colorado ’ s San Juan mountains and Anthracite Range , which is close to the ski resort town of Crested Butte .
Albert Perry , 55 , and Dr. Jeff Paffendorf , 51 , both of Durango , Colorado , were originally reported as missing after the pair was overdue to return from a trip on Saturday , according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center ( CAIC ) .
“ The pair had planned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Battleship , southeast of Ophir Pass .
In the dark from a helicopter , rescuers could see a large avalanche and ski tracks , ” the CAIC said in a statement .
On Friday another body was recovered from the nearby Gunnison zone .
The victim was later identified as Jeff Schneider .
According to a report by the CAIC , Schneider spoke with two other skiers in the area about their descent plans , but when the other skiers noticed that Schneider ’ s snowmobile was still in the area they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the avalanche .
There have been over 220 reports of avalanches in the Colorado backcountry this year , leading the CAIC to mark most of the backcountry as “ extremely dangerous ” on their avalanche forecast .
“ This is not a normal year , it ’ s been unusual conditions causing avalanches so far , ” CAIC Director Ethan Greene said to CNN .
“ A lot of avalanches were triggered by people this week .
More people die in avalanches in Colorado than any other state , and this year has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging skiers to pay close attention to the avalanche forecasts due to the increase in deaths .

Three skiers were found dead and buried in snow this weekend following a series of avalanches in the Colorado backcountry.
The deaths happened on Colorado’s San Juan mountains and Anthracite Range, which is close to the ski resort town of Crested Butte.
Albert Perry, 55, and Dr. Jeff Paffendorf, 51, both of Durango, Colorado, were originally reported as missing after the pair was overdue to return from a trip on Saturday, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC).
“The pair had planned to ski in an area locally known as the Battleship, southeast of Ophir Pass. In the dark from a helicopter, rescuers could see a large avalanche and ski tracks,” the CAIC said in a statement.
Authorities recovered the bodies on Dec. 20.
On Friday another body was recovered from the nearby Gunnison zone. The victim was later identified as Jeff Schneider.
According to a report by the CAIC, Schneider spoke with two other skiers in the area about their descent plans, but when the other skiers noticed that Schneider’s snowmobile was still in the area they retraced his route, only to find the avalanche.
There have been over 220 reports of avalanches in the Colorado backcountry this year, leading the CAIC to mark most of the backcountry as “extremely dangerous” on their avalanche forecast.
“This is not a normal year, it’s been unusual conditions causing avalanches so far,” CAIC Director Ethan Greene said to CNN.
“A lot of avalanches were triggered by people this week. More people die in avalanches in Colorado than any other state, and this year has been especially dangerous.”
Colorado officials are urging skiers to pay close attention to the avalanche forecasts due to the increase in deaths.


newyorkpost--2020-12-23--‘Sylvie’s Love’ Is a Gorgeous Romance… Until That Ending

Warning : This article contains Sylvie ’ s Love spoilers .
Read at your own risk .
For 90 minutes of Sylvie ’ s Love , which began streaming on Amazon today , I was 100 percent on board .
Two gorgeous , talented people—Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha—falling in love when they shouldn ’ t ?
Yes , please .
Slow-dancing in the the street ?
Absolutely .
Sexy , stolen hours on a rooftop ?
Give it to me .
Years of separation followed by a passionate reunion ?
Yes , yes , a thousand times yes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Love was everything I wanted from a classic , sweeping romance .
It may take place in the summertime , but it was the perfect movie to watch with a mug of hot chocolate and a cross-stitch pattern on a winter afternoon .
Or at least it was—until that ending .
The Sylvie ’ s Love ending turned my cozy couch-time viewing of this sentimental new Amazon Prime movie into a stressful , high-blood pressure frustration fest .
Apologies to Mr. Ashe , who made an otherwise lovely film , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Love ending .
A quick summary before we get into it : Sylvie ’ s Love is an original romance that tells the story of Sylvie Farrell ( Thomson ) , who falls in love with a saxophone player named Robert ( Asomugha ) over music and lingering looks in her father ’ s record store .
It ’ s the kind of all-consuming , storybook love that most only dream of , but fate has other plans : Sylvie is engaged to be married to a high-society doctor ( Alano Miller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Robert ’ s band gets a gig in Paris .
Not wanting to hold him back from his big break , Sylvie decides not to tell Robert , when he leaves , that she is carrying his child .
Five years later , they reconnect by chance and find they are still in love .
Despite the significant obstacles in their path , they manage , eventually , to make a life together work .
Sylvie is now a respected television producer running a cooking show , while Robert ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert loves Sylvie and his daughter enough to let his wife them through this rough patch in his career , right ?
Wrong , apparently !
Robert , believing that he has a job offer with a Motown band in Detroit , asks Sylvie to leave her job and upend their life to move across the country .
But when Robert goes to Detroit to work out the details of the job , he discovers his friend wasn ’ t serious about the offer—he was talking himself up , making promises that weren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Robert returns to New York .
“ Well , ” I thought to myself , “ I definitely like him less than I did before , but at least now he ’ s returned to his wife and will presumably tell her what happened and continue to look for gigs in NYC.
” Wrong again !
Instead , Robert tells Sylvie that he is going back to Detroit alone .
He says he doesn ’ t want her to come because he ’ s “ not a family man.
” He doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t get the gig .
He lies to her , and he leaves .
He goes back to Detroit and secretly gets a factory job .
Rather than an exercise in astoundingly self-destructive egomania , this is meant to be seen as a noble sacrifice .
You see , Sylvie has always wanted to work in television , and now she has achieved her dreams .
In a montage of Robert reflecting on this , we ’ re supposed to understand that just as Sylvie once withheld the information about his baby to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now Robert can do the same for Sylvie .
Except that doesn ’ t make any sense !
Clearly , Sylvie ’ s already a pro at furthering her career as a married mother .
Leaving her with one less childcare option is going to help her… how , exactly ?
Breaking her heart is going to set her free… in what way ?
Explain yourself , Robert !
This is madness !
Surely there are similar minimum wage jobs he could get in New York , as a way of supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is he really so emasculated by the idea of Sylvie earning more than him that he ’ s forced to abandon the people he loves most in the world ?
Why does Tessa Thompson like this guy , again ?
Perhaps the lesson here is that both Robert and Sylvie made terrible , self-sacrificing decisions in the name of love .
Sylvie should have told Robert about their baby , and Robert should have told Sylvie about losing the gig .
But the difference is that , while we ’ re not meant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we can at least understand it .
She ’ s a pregnant , Black woman in the 1950s—who could blame her for choosing the “ safe ” option of being a doctor ’ s wife ?
Robert ’ s mistake , on the other hand , makes him look like an absolute jerk .
So , by this point , I fully hate Robert .
When the two finally do get back together in the end—and yes , spoiler alert , they do end up together , because thankfully Ashe is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I mean , did my heart melt when their eyes met in the factory parking lot ?
Yes .
I ’ m not a monster , and Tessa Thompson happens to be one of the greatest actors of our day .
But rather than rooting for a kiss , now I ’ m rooting for Sylvie to yell at Robert some more .
Because seriously , Robert , what the hell ?
This is not my kind of happily ever after !
Anyways .
Three quarters of Sylvie ’ s Love is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Thompson and Asomugha .
I just hate the ending a lot .

Warning: This article contains Sylvie’s Love spoilers. Read at your own risk.
For 90 minutes of Sylvie’s Love, which began streaming on Amazon today, I was 100 percent on board. Two gorgeous, talented people—Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha—falling in love when they shouldn’t? Yes, please. Slow-dancing in the the street? Absolutely. Sexy, stolen hours on a rooftop? Give it to me. Years of separation followed by a passionate reunion? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
From writer/director/producer Eugene Ashe, Sylvie’s Love was everything I wanted from a classic, sweeping romance. It may take place in the summertime, but it was the perfect movie to watch with a mug of hot chocolate and a cross-stitch pattern on a winter afternoon. Or at least it was—until that ending. The Sylvie’s Love ending turned my cozy couch-time viewing of this sentimental new Amazon Prime movie into a stressful, high-blood pressure frustration fest. Apologies to Mr. Ashe, who made an otherwise lovely film, but I am forced to reject the Sylvie’s Love ending.
A quick summary before we get into it: Sylvie’s Love is an original romance that tells the story of Sylvie Farrell (Thomson), who falls in love with a saxophone player named Robert (Asomugha) over music and lingering looks in her father’s record store. It’s the kind of all-consuming, storybook love that most only dream of, but fate has other plans: Sylvie is engaged to be married to a high-society doctor (Alano Miller), currently fighting in the war, and Robert’s band gets a gig in Paris. Not wanting to hold him back from his big break, Sylvie decides not to tell Robert, when he leaves, that she is carrying his child. Five years later, they reconnect by chance and find they are still in love. Despite the significant obstacles in their path, they manage, eventually, to make a life together work. Sylvie is now a respected television producer running a cooking show, while Robert’s saxophone career is stalling. But surely Robert loves Sylvie and his daughter enough to let his wife them through this rough patch in his career, right?
Wrong! Robert, believing that he has a job offer with a Motown band in Detroit, asks Sylvie to leave her job and upend their life to move across the country. But when Robert goes to Detroit to work out the details of the job, he discovers his friend wasn’t serious about the offer—he was talking himself up, making promises that weren’t his to make. Devastated, Robert returns to New York. “Well,” I thought to myself, “I definitely like him less than I did before, but at least now he’s returned to his wife and will presumably tell her what happened and continue to look for gigs in NYC.”
Wrong again! Instead, Robert tells Sylvie that he is going back to Detroit alone. He says he doesn’t want her to come because he’s “not a family man.” He doesn’t tell her he didn’t get the gig. He lies to her, and he leaves. He goes back to Detroit and secretly gets a factory job. Rather than an exercise in astoundingly self-destructive egomania, this is meant to be seen as a noble sacrifice. You see, Sylvie has always wanted to work in television, and now she has achieved her dreams. In a montage of Robert reflecting on this, we’re supposed to understand that just as Sylvie once withheld the information about his baby to help him go further in his career, now Robert can do the same for Sylvie.
Except that doesn’t make any sense! Clearly, Sylvie’s already a pro at furthering her career as a married mother. Leaving her with one less childcare option is going to help her… how, exactly? Breaking her heart is going to set her free… in what way? Explain yourself, Robert! This is madness! Surely there are similar minimum wage jobs he could get in New York, as a way of supporting his family both financially and emotionally? Is he really so emasculated by the idea of Sylvie earning more than him that he’s forced to abandon the people he loves most in the world? Why does Tessa Thompson like this guy, again?
Perhaps the lesson here is that both Robert and Sylvie made terrible, self-sacrificing decisions in the name of love. Sylvie should have told Robert about their baby, and Robert should have told Sylvie about losing the gig. But the difference is that, while we’re not meant to agree with Sylvie’s mistake, we can at least understand it. She’s a pregnant, Black woman in the 1950s—who could blame her for choosing the “safe” option of being a doctor’s wife? Robert’s mistake, on the other hand, makes him look like an absolute jerk.
So, by this point, I fully hate Robert. When the two finally do get back together in the end—and yes, spoiler alert, they do end up together, because thankfully Ashe is not an absolute sadist—it’s barely satisfying. I mean, did my heart melt when their eyes met in the factory parking lot? Yes. I’m not a monster, and Tessa Thompson happens to be one of the greatest actors of our day. But rather than rooting for a kiss, now I’m rooting for Sylvie to yell at Robert some more. Because seriously, Robert, what the hell? This is not my kind of happily ever after!
Anyways. Three quarters of Sylvie’s Love is a gorgeous movie with incredible performances from both Thompson and Asomugha. I just can’t get on board with that ending.
Watch Sylvie's Love on Prime Video