newyorkpost--2020-04-26--Why New York City needs a property-tax holiday

Tenants who are out of work amid the COVID-19 crisis ...

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Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council support rent moratoriums for tenants impacted by COVID, and stores and restaurants with no income have already stopped paying rent. Yet the city is silent on a looming issue: Come July, does Gotham expect to collect taxes from landlords whose income is plummeting?
The city’s $93.5 billion budget is based on trickle-up economics. People make money and spend it on apartment rent, as well as at stores, restaurants, hair salons. Property owners benefit, as activity pushes up the value of their investments; in turn, they pay taxes.
Many owners won’t be able to meet the July 1 due date. Even if the city starts to open mid-May, retail and restaurant owners will face huge challenges: Will customers sit close to strangers? Will commuters be back to support retail? When will borders open, bringing tourists?
Meanwhile, the city charges loan-shark interest to late payers: 7 to 18 percent, compounded daily.
Jan Lee, whose family has owned tenement property in Chinatown for generations, rents to rent-stabilized residential and market-rate commercial tenants. His 22 residential tenants paid the April rent, but “May is going to be a very tough month.”
And commercial tenants aren’t paying. Lee rents to two restaurants, including one world-famous Chinese restaurant, in operation for five decades. “April came,” Lee said. “He told me. ‘I am not able to pay.’ ”
Neither restaurant is paying. Attempts at delivery-only have failed, as workers have a hard time getting into Manhattan, and commercial food-supply chains are breaking down. “It doesn’t behoove me to chase a restaurant out,” Lee says. “No one is going to fill a 2,000-foot space.”
But small owners are expected to come up with cash, well over $50,000, even for modest properties. “Owners should not, when they roll up the gate, be met with bills,” says Lee. “The number one cost is going to be property taxes, 25 to 35 percent of gross rent roll,” says another owner, Joanna Wong.
If the city is draconian, smaller owners will bounce, as they did in the 1970s. Especially owners with modest, rent-stabilized portfolios, who need the commercial income to subsidize apartments.
City Hall should set up a deferral program for owners who demonstrate hardship, as downtown Councilwoman Margaret Chin suggested Friday. Tax payments would be delayed, not canceled, with owners resuming payments next year, in installments, with no interest. If things aren’t better next year, the city and owners will have to revisit the process, and property bills must start to come down, anyway, as the city revises values downward.
“The city doesn’t have any money,” one city official said of this idea last week. With state approval for this aid, though, the city could borrow against next year’s resumption of revenues, through a new Federal Reserve program.
Again, if next year isn’t better, everyone will have to deal — but it won’t help recovery to squeeze cash owners don’t have.
Officials should also stop implying that residents don’t have to pay rent. State Sens. Michael Gianaris and Julia Salazar are pushing such a movement. “I sympathize with our tenants,” says Joyce Holland, who manages small properties in Manhattan and Brooklyn. But “income … is needed to run the property.”
She’s willing to be flexible with one tenant who may need to break her lease and with those who have lost income. But the rhetoric doesn’t help. The point of Congress approving extraordinary unemployment benefits is so most people can pay most bills, avoiding broader economic collapse.
Longer-term, the city faces grave uncertainty: At $30.1 billion annually, the property tax is its biggest tax. A botched recovery will harm the value of that property, as would-be New Yorkers shun badly managed density.
Even after six weeks, the mayor still can’t figure out ways for New Yorkers to exercise on open streets, or how to help the homeless who have taken over subways — not good signs for future revenues.
Nicole Gelinas is a contributing editor of City Journal. Twitter: @NicoleGelinas


newyorkpost--2020-04-26--New York City doorman could become accidental state assemblyman

This doorman could become the accidental state assemblyman .
Louis Puliafito , a 62-year-old Republican , now has a strong chance to win an Upper East Side Assembly seat thanks to a pre-election ballot fluke involving three-term Democratic incumbent Rebecca Seawright .
And Puliafito told The Post he ’ s ready for the job to open new doors for himself and others .
“ I ’ m tired .
I ’ ve had enough .
I ’ m like a bull in a china shop , ” the wannabe lawmaker said of his decision to get into politics .
Puliafito @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building and babysits for his four grandkids during the day so his son and daughter-in-law can work .
But he could be headed for Albany after Seawright was knocked off the ballot for failing to include cover sheets with her petitions – paving the way for him to get elected in the overwhelmingly Democratic 76th Assembly district that takes in the UES , Yorkville and Roosevelt Island .
The Post first reported on her ballot troubles last week .
“ I have to work doubly hard to earn everyone ’ s respect .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ think I walked in through the back door , ” Puliafito acknowledged to The Post .
Puliafito vows to be a reformer who will attack waste and fraud in Albany while vowing to defend the regular folks and have compassion for struggling New Yorkers .
“ We need political reform .
We need to track the money , ” Puliafito said .
Just don ’ t ask him if he ’ s voting for President Trump ’ s re-election – he won ’ t say .
He said he will keep his preference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I have more immediate issues .
I ’ m focusing on what I can do for my neighborhood , my city and state , ” Puliafito said .
He was raised and lived most of his life on the UES and worked several corporate IT jobs before becoming a doorman five years ago .
As a building doorman , Puliafito said he is a ” proud ” member of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union .
“ The union helps people keep their heads above water .
The union picks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Puliafito said he ’ s still formulating his positions on key policy issues such as taxes – perhaps an indication that he didn ’ t expect to be a front-runner to win the seat .
But the fight over Seawright ’ s seat is not over .
He and Seawright are battling in Manhattan state Supreme Court over whether Seawright should remain off the general-election ballot as the Democratic Party and Working Family Party candidate .
If she doesn ’ t make it on the ballot , Puliafito will be the only major-party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vowed to collect voter signatures to run on an independent-ballot line .
But getting signatures is currently prohibited by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s emergency executive order during the coronavirus because of quarantine rules , an election-board source explained .
In terms of the paperwork snafu , the Seawright camp said she had a “ COVID-like ” viral infection during the petitioning period last month and that contributed to the problem .
Puliafito has brought in top-gun election lawyer Lawrence Mandelker to represent him in the Manhattan Supreme Court case .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mandelker first must get a waiver from the city Board of Elections to work for Puliafito because he also represents the election agency in another case in which it sued Mayor Bill de Blasio in federal court over whether City Hall can provide translation interpreters within polling sites .
The board will decide whether the conflict is serious enough to bar Mandelker from repping both Puliafito and the board in separate cases .
Seawright ’ s lawyer , Greg Soumas , claims it ’ s a conflict of interest for Mandelker to represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the board .
“ Mandelker is currently representing the NYC Board of Elections and each of its Commissioners on a separate matter .
Naturally , I object to Mr. Mandelker appearing herein , ” Soumas said in an e-mail to elections officials .
An elections watchdog group also opposed granting Mandelker a waiver , arguing working for both the elections agency and Puliafito poses a conflict .
“ I find this shocking , ” said Susan Lerner , executive director of Common Cause NY .
“ The Board of Elections already has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiver .
This situation highlights what ’ s wrong with politically-driven elections administration .
Granting the waiver would damage the credibility of the board.
” The ten-member board will vote Tuesday on whether it will grant the waiver .
Fred Umane , the GOP commissioner for Manhattan on the board , told The Post he will recuse himself .

This doorman could become the accidental state assemblyman.
Louis Puliafito, a 62-year-old Republican, now has a strong chance to win an Upper East Side Assembly seat thanks to a pre-election ballot fluke involving three-term Democratic incumbent Rebecca Seawright.
And Puliafito told The Post he’s ready for the job to open new doors for himself and others.
“I’m tired. I’ve had enough. I’m like a bull in a china shop,” the wannabe lawmaker said of his decision to get into politics.
Puliafito works the late-night shift in a residential building and babysits for his four grandkids during the day so his son and daughter-in-law can work.
But he could be headed for Albany after Seawright was knocked off the ballot for failing to include cover sheets with her petitions – paving the way for him to get elected in the overwhelmingly Democratic 76th Assembly district that takes in the UES, Yorkville and Roosevelt Island. The Post first reported on her ballot troubles last week.
“I have to work doubly hard to earn everyone’s respect. I don’t want people to think I walked in through the back door,” Puliafito acknowledged to The Post.
Puliafito vows to be a reformer who will attack waste and fraud in Albany while vowing to defend the regular folks and have compassion for struggling New Yorkers.
He supports term limits.
“We need political reform. We need to track the money,” Puliafito said.
Just don’t ask him if he’s voting for President Trump’s re-election – he won’t say.
He said he will keep his preference for president at the ballot box.
“I have more immediate issues. I’m focusing on what I can do for my neighborhood, my city and state,” Puliafito said.
He was raised and lived most of his life on the UES and worked several corporate IT jobs before becoming a doorman five years ago.
As a building doorman, Puliafito said he is a ”proud” member of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union.
“The union helps people keep their heads above water. The union picks everyone up,” he said.
Puliafito said he’s still formulating his positions on key policy issues such as taxes – perhaps an indication that he didn’t expect to be a front-runner to win the seat.
But the fight over Seawright’s seat is not over.
He and Seawright are battling in Manhattan state Supreme Court over whether Seawright should remain off the general-election ballot as the Democratic Party and Working Family Party candidate. If she doesn’t make it on the ballot, Puliafito will be the only major-party candidate on it.
Seawright also has vowed to collect voter signatures to run on an independent-ballot line. But getting signatures is currently prohibited by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s emergency executive order during the coronavirus because of quarantine rules, an election-board source explained.
In terms of the paperwork snafu, the Seawright camp said she had a “COVID-like” viral infection during the petitioning period last month and that contributed to the problem.
Puliafito has brought in top-gun election lawyer Lawrence Mandelker to represent him in the Manhattan Supreme Court case. But there’s a potential problem.
Mandelker first must get a waiver from the city Board of Elections to work for Puliafito because he also represents the election agency in another case in which it sued Mayor Bill de Blasio in federal court over whether City Hall can provide translation interpreters within polling sites.
The board will decide whether the conflict is serious enough to bar Mandelker from repping both Puliafito and the board in separate cases.
Seawright’s lawyer, Greg Soumas, claims it’s a conflict of interest for Mandelker to represent Puliafito while also on paid retainer with the board.
“Mandelker is currently representing the NYC Board of Elections and each of its Commissioners on a separate matter. Naturally, I object to Mr. Mandelker appearing herein,” Soumas said in an e-mail to elections officials.
An elections watchdog group also opposed granting Mandelker a waiver, arguing working for both the elections agency and Puliafito poses a conflict.
“I find this shocking,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause NY. “The Board of Elections already has a bad reputation. They should reject the waiver. This situation highlights what’s wrong with politically-driven elections administration. Granting the waiver would damage the credibility of the board.”
The ten-member board will vote Tuesday on whether it will grant the waiver. Fred Umane, the GOP commissioner for Manhattan on the board, told The Post he will recuse himself.


newyorkpost--2020-04-26--The mail-in-ballot mess and other commentary

Mark Hemingway reports at RealClearPolitics that “ 28.3 million mail-in ballots remain unaccounted for ” from elections between 2012 and 2018 , according to data from the federal Election Assistance Commission.
” That ’ s “ nearly 1 in 5 of all absentee ballots , ” yet state and local officials “ simply have no idea what happened ” to them .
And while we have “ no evidence that the millions of missing ballots were used fraudulently , ” their disappearance “ raises serious doubts about election security.
” Worse , increasing mail-in voting could incentivize fraud , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of mail-in ballots — but most states have “ ignored ” such fears , and five “ now do all elections exclusively by mail.
” That ’ s worrisome , especially if “ the current pandemic is going to force the issue during a presidential election.
” “ Liberal cultural elites have had it out for Phyllis Schlafly since she defeated the Equal Rights Amendment in 1979 , ” Colleen Holcomb sighs at The Federalist .
The latest : The producers of the FX/Hulu series “ Mrs .
America ” opted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , persecuted by her own conservative ideology and even by God.
” In reality , Schlafly was “ a Harvard University-educated , anti-Communist crusader , ” whose opposition to the ERA for “ subjecting [ women ] to the draft and removing important protections ” made her a “ villain ” to the cultural left .
In all , “ Schlafly was a formidable woman who empowered , inspired and gave a voice to the forgotten women of her generation ” — not the “ victim ” the TV show portrays .
Any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fumes , “ should be outraged ” by the show ’ s mendacious narrative .
“ In the 103 years since the last comparable pandemic , ” Elisabeth Fortunato observes at American Greatness , “ our cultural relationship with life and death has changed.
” Unlike in earlier , more religiously aware eras , Americans today increasingly “ tend to deny death and decay ” and strenuously avoid serious reflection on life ’ s final journey .
Part of the blame actually lies with the funeral industry , which no longer offers a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burial experience like those from earlier times in our country ’ s history.
” Back in the day , older women in the family “ would wash and dress their loved one ’ s body , carefully arrange the body on a couch or bed and the community would come together and mourn.
” The ritual was part of the coping process , and the awareness of death paradoxically served to highlight the “ inherent value of human life as an essential truth.
” The coronavirus is a “ clarifying catalyst for American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spectator USA .
It has shone a cold light on economic globalism , even as it “ has highlighted the class divide that globalization produces within countries such as America.
” The professional caste , which supports Joe Biden , has jobs that “ are relatively secure , ” while “ the service class , ” including “ waiters and cooks and hotel maids and retail clerks and others , ” are out of work and out of luck .
“ Not to worry : The professional class will write all of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rich : The same “ neoconservative , anti-Trump Republicans and Biden Democrats ” who empowered China across decades are now calling for harsh lockdown measures and “ trying to shut up skeptics and dissenters.
” Many governors , including Florida ’ s and Georgia ’ s , are “ hoping to jolt the economy back to life ” by allowing businesses to reopen — but , Vox ’ s Matthew Yglesias points out , they ’ re in for a rude awakening when they realize they “ can ’ t force people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abandoning America ’ s restaurants ” well before the lockdowns and will still be “ wary of actually showing up , ” even if governors reopen them .
And any conceivable reopening “ will still leave large segments of the economy , ” including hotels , salons and airlines , “ largely shuttered , ” as Americans have only started “ paring back on unnecessary spending , prompting further rounds of lost income ” for businesses .
“ Reopening ” alone won ’ t save the economy : For that , we need @ @ @ @ @ @

Fraud watch: The Mail-In-Ballot Mess
Mark Hemingway reports at RealClearPolitics that “28.3 million mail-in ballots remain unaccounted for” from elections between 2012 and 2018, according to data from the federal Election Assistance Commission.” That’s “nearly 1 in 5 of all absentee ballots,” yet state and local officials “simply have no idea what happened” to them. And while we have “no evidence that the millions of missing ballots were used fraudulently,” their disappearance “raises serious doubts about election security.” Worse, increasing mail-in voting could incentivize fraud, which multiple studies have shown is a major risk of mail-in ballots — but most states have “ignored” such fears, and five “now do all elections exclusively by mail.” That’s worrisome, especially if “the current pandemic is going to force the issue during a presidential election.”
Culture critic: Why Elites Hate Phyllis Schlafly
“Liberal cultural elites have had it out for Phyllis Schlafly since she defeated the Equal Rights Amendment in 1979,” Colleen Holcomb sighs at The Federalist. The latest: The producers of the FX/Hulu series “Mrs. America” opted to portray Schlafly as “the consummate victim, persecuted by her own conservative ideology and even by God.” In reality, Schlafly was “a Harvard University-educated, anti-Communist crusader,” whose opposition to the ERA for “subjecting [women] to the draft and removing important protections” made her a “villain” to the cultural left. In all, “Schlafly was a formidable woman who empowered, inspired and gave a voice to the forgotten women of her generation” — not the “victim” the TV show portrays. Any “intellectually honest viewer,” Holcomb fumes, “should be outraged” by the show’s mendacious narrative.
Pandemic watch: Relearning To Accept Death
“In the 103 years since the last comparable pandemic,” Elisabeth Fortunato observes at American Greatness, “our cultural relationship with life and death has changed.” Unlike in earlier, more religiously aware eras, Americans today increasingly “tend to deny death and decay” and strenuously avoid serious reflection on life’s final journey. Part of the blame actually lies with the funeral industry, which no longer offers a “more personal, holistic mourning and burial experience like those from earlier times in our country’s history.” Back in the day, older women in the family “would wash and dress their loved one’s body, carefully arrange the body on a couch or bed and the community would come together and mourn.” The ritual was part of the coping process, and the awareness of death paradoxically served to highlight the “inherent value of human life as an essential truth.”
Conservative: Why Bidenistas Love Lockdowns
The coronavirus is a “clarifying catalyst for American politics,” contends Daniel McCarthy at Spectator USA. It has shone a cold light on economic globalism, even as it “has highlighted the class divide that globalization produces within countries such as America.” The professional caste, which supports Joe Biden, has jobs that “are relatively secure,” while “the service class,” including “waiters and cooks and hotel maids and retail clerks and others,” are out of work and out of luck. “Not to worry: The professional class will write all of them checks for $1,200.” It’s rich: The same “neoconservative, anti-Trump Republicans and Biden Democrats” who empowered China across decades are now calling for harsh lockdown measures and “trying to shut up skeptics and dissenters.”
From the left: ‘Reopening’ Won’t Save Biz
Many governors, including Florida’s and Georgia’s, are “hoping to jolt the economy back to life” by allowing businesses to reopen — but, Vox’s Matthew Yglesias points out, they’re in for a rude awakening when they realize they “can’t force people to patronize them.” Customers “began abandoning America’s restaurants” well before the lockdowns and will still be “wary of actually showing up,” even if governors reopen them. And any conceivable reopening “will still leave large segments of the economy,” including hotels, salons and airlines, “largely shuttered,” as Americans have only started “paring back on unnecessary spending, prompting further rounds of lost income” for businesses. “Reopening” alone won’t save the economy: For that, we need “real public-health victories.”
— Compiled by Karl Salzmann & Sohrab Ahmari


newyorkpost--2020-04-26--White House officials say Trump works so hard he often misses lunch

President Trump ripped into the media Sunday in response to ...

President Trump’s schedule is so packed amid the coronavirus crisis that he sometimes skips lunch, his aides told The Post — refuting a report that the commander-in-chief spends his days obsessing over TV coverage and eating fries.
White House staffers said the president works around the clock and can make five dozen work-related calls a day during the pandemic.
“I can tell you that the biggest concern I have as a new chief of staff is making sure he gets some time to get a quick bite to eat,” White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told The Post.
He said Trump recently called him at 3:19 a.m. He wasn’t expecting the call and was asleep when the phone rang.
“I can tell you that he will go back in and have a lunch just off the Oval Office and more times than not it is interrupted by several phone calls,” Meadows said. “If he gets more than 10 minutes of time in a given day, I haven’t seen in the five weeks I’ve been here.”
A different White House official said Trump some days doesn’t eat lunch.
“There are times when lunch isn’t even a thought,” the official said. “A lot of time there’s either no time for lunch or there is 10 minutes for lunch.”
An account in the New York Times that claimed Trump lingers in his bedroom as late as noon infuriated the president, who tweeted Sunday, “I will often be in the Oval Office late into the night & read & see that I am angrily eating a hamburger & Diet Coke in my bedroom.”
“I work from early in the morning until late at night,” the president tweeted.
Another White House official provided The Post with data on recent presidential phone calls, which they said attest to his packed schedule.
On Wednesday, Trump made about two dozen morning calls starting with a conversation around 6:30 a.m. with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, according to the official.
On Thursday morning, Trump made 18 work-related calls from his private quarters, including four to foreign leaders, which can be lengthy due to translation and a broad range of topics. On Friday, he began the day with another four calls with foreign leaders.
Trump returned to the White House residence at 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, according to the official. On Thursday night, he made 11 work calls. On Wednesday night, he was calling until 11:30 p.m. and spoke with a governor, a senator and a congressman.
Trump has meetings and calls during his time in the Oval Office. On Thursday, he took nearly three dozen calls.
“He’ll call up until late evening or midnight on a fairly regular basis,” Meadows said.
At night, “normally he will get six or seven calls from members [of Congress] or business leaders or community leaders, so oftentimes what he will do is go up to the residence and have the White House operator literally do back-to-back calls,” Meadows said.
If Trump has something on his mind, he prefers to call right away. “When he calls in the evening or the early morning, it’s really with a pressing issue that demands immediate action,” Meadows said.
Morning phone calls from the residence are routine for Trump.
“I get phone calls from him early in the morning and at the end of the day,” said Peter Navarro, director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy.
“I think I work hard. I put in probably 12-hour days seven days a week and he runs circles around all of us,” Navarro said. “He never seems to tire. So this idea that he’s not working hard is just so absurd. Note to the New York Times: Spending time in the morning reading all of the material that’s given to him by his staff secretary, as well as virtually all of the newspapers, that’s work. That’s not kicking back with a croissant.”
Trump largely has been confined to the White House since COVID-19 triggered widespread business closures and halted his extensive travel. Now, public engagements are limited to press briefings and less frequent televised pool sprays with reporters in the West Wing and on the White House grounds.
Officials don’t dispute that Trump often has a TV screen on during the day, but said that’s a reasonable thing to do. They also do not deny that the president powers through the day on Diet Coke.
Trump monitoring TV news coverage “is like a linebacker watching tape,” the first official said. “How else are we going to know what’s being said and what’s being reported out there?”
Trump’s schedule generally is grueling for reporters and officials whose personal lives are tied to his activities. On Easter, for example, Trump was working in the Oval Office to broker an oil production agreement between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
“We watch him work and work and work, and we get frustrated by the inaccurate coverage, which does not reflect the hard work and leadership we witness every day,” the second official said.


newyorkpost--2020-04-26--Giants pick Cam Brown already has Cowboys hatred in his blood

Cam Brown was ahead of his time .
The new Giants draft pick won ’ t have to get used to not liking the Cowboys , as his Twitter account shows he is already well-versed in his hatred toward Big Blue ’ s NFC East rival .
“ Cowboys are forever some ass , ” Brown tweeted on Nov. 28 , 2013 .
The tweet lines up with early in a game between the Cowboys and Raiders , in which the Raiders led early before losing 31-24 .
Brown sent another on October 6 , 2013 , the day the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much yall think the Cowboys boutta lose by ?
50 ?
60 ?
” Brown tweeted .
Submit questions on your favorite New York teams to be answered in an upcoming mailbag Brown , who grew up in Burtonsville , MD , went on to play linebacker at Penn State , where he was a team captain and an All-Big Ten third-team selection last fall .
When the Giants drafted him in the sixth round , 183rd overall , on Saturday , fans were quick to dig up his old tweets about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorite .

Cam Brown was ahead of his time.
The new Giants draft pick won’t have to get used to not liking the Cowboys, as his Twitter account shows he is already well-versed in his hatred toward Big Blue’s NFC East rival.
“Cowboys are forever some ass,” Brown tweeted on Nov. 28, 2013.
The tweet lines up with early in a game between the Cowboys and Raiders, in which the Raiders led early before losing 31-24.
Brown sent another on October 6, 2013, the day the Cowboys played the Broncos.
“How much yall think the Cowboys boutta lose by? 50? 60?” Brown tweeted.
Submit questions on your favorite New York teams to be answered in an upcoming mailbag
They eventually lost 51-48.
Brown, who grew up in Burtonsville, MD, went on to play linebacker at Penn State, where he was a team captain and an All-Big Ten third-team selection last fall.
When the Giants drafted him in the sixth round, 183rd overall, on Saturday, fans were quick to dig up his old tweets about the Cowboys, immediately making him a fan favorite.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Head of Russian hospital falls 50 feet during coronavirus call

A black market has emerged in Russia for an antiviral ...

The head of a Russian hospital is in critical condition after plummeting 50 feet during a conference call with health officials in which she complained about the lack of personal protective equipment to treat coronavirus patients, according to reports.
Dr. Yelena Nepomnyashchaya, 47, fell from a window of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Hospital for War Veterans — which was repurposed to treat COVID-19 patients — during discussions with the chief of the Krasnoyarsk region’s health department, the Moscow Times reported, citing TVK.
The mother of two is believed to have opposed having another building at the facility being converted for use to treat coronavirus patients because of an “acute shortage” of PPE for doctors and nurses and a lack of proper training, TVK cited a source as saying.
“Perhaps these were the circumstances that prompted the woman to commit a desperate act,” the person was quoted as saying.
Nepomnyashchaya is fighting for her life after the fifth-floor plunge, but health officials are “refusing to talk” about her chances of survival, according to TVK, the Sun of the UK reported.
Aleksey Podkorytov, deputy chief of the Krasnoyarsk region’s government, said her fall could have another explanation besides those reported by local media.
“So many things could have happened. It could have been because it was spring, the overall stress, something in her family. It’s difficult to say what could have happened,” he said, the Sun reported.
“There was nothing extraordinary happening at the time, just a routine conference call with doctors’ reports,” he said. “At the time [of the incident] there were no patients with coronavirus, yet the hospital was on high alert with all necessary equipment in place.”
Podkorytov added: “She just reported that there were no coronavirus patients. They in fact [have] started to be admitted into the hospital, but only a very few with the lightest form of the virus.”
The incident follows other reports that doctors in Russia have quit amid protests over a lack of PPE.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Tesla asks employees to return to work before coronavirus lockdown ends

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Tesla has asked some employees at its California factory to return to work before the end of a lockdown order that shut down the plant last month , according to reports .
Elon Musk ’ s electric-car maker told some paint and stamping operations workers to report to the Fremont , California factory on Wednesday — four days before the Bay Area ’ s “ shelter in place ” order is scheduled to end , Bloomberg News reported Saturday .
Tesla issued the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though it ’ s supposed to maintain “ minimum basic operations ” at the plant through May 3 under the Alameda County order aimed at stopping the spread of the deadly coronavirus .
Those rules are still in place , though officials are expected to update businesses by Sunday on whether the restrictions will change , Sgt .
Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff ’ s Office told CNBC .
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday morning .
The Silicon Valley-based automaker stopped producing cars at its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standoff with local authorities over whether it was considered an essential business that could operate normally under the lockdown .
Alameda County health officer Erica Pan deemed the plant a “ public health risk , ” according to Bloomberg News .
The company previously told employees — some of whom it has furloughed amid the shutdown — that it planned to resume production on May 4 , after the lockdown measures were slated to end , Bloomberg reported .
Tesla has also halted most production at its factory in Buffalo , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at its Nevada plant .
It ’ s unclear whether the company has called any staff back to work at either of those facilities .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Tesla has asked some employees at its California factory to return to work before the end of a lockdown order that shut down the plant last month, according to reports.
Elon Musk’s electric-car maker told some paint and stamping operations workers to report to the Fremont, California, factory on Wednesday — four days before the Bay Area’s “shelter in place” order is scheduled to end, Bloomberg News reported Saturday.
Tesla issued the order to dozens of employees — even though it’s supposed to maintain “minimum basic operations” at the plant through May 3 under the Alameda County order aimed at stopping the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Those rules are still in place, though officials are expected to update businesses by Sunday on whether the restrictions will change, Sgt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office told CNBC.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday morning.
The Silicon Valley-based automaker stopped producing cars at its Fremont plant on March 23 after a standoff with local authorities over whether it was considered an essential business that could operate normally under the lockdown. Alameda County health officer Erica Pan deemed the plant a “public health risk,” according to Bloomberg News.
The company previously told employees — some of whom it has furloughed amid the shutdown — that it planned to resume production on May 4, after the lockdown measures were slated to end, Bloomberg reported.
Tesla has also halted most production at its factory in Buffalo, New York, and greatly reduced the number of workers at its Nevada plant. It’s unclear whether the company has called any staff back to work at either of those facilities.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Listen to Episode 32 of ‘Blue Rush’: Grading Gettleman, Giants’ Draft Picks

Dave Gettleman said he would fix the offensive line “ once and for all ” heading into the 2020 NFL Draft .
Well , the general manager sure did get the Giants a couple of offensive linemen that we should see for years to come .
But how well did Gettlema do overall in the draft ?
That ’ s a question we answer to open up the season finale of the “ Blue Rush ” podcast with me and Post football columnist Steve Serby .
What grade did we each give Gettleman ?
Did he draft too many linebackers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made , what was good and what was not .
Overall , Gettleman filled some major holes and also bolstered special teams , which will make first-year head coach Joe Judge a happy man .
We then hear clips from their second , third and fourth-round picks Xavier McKinney , Matt Peart and Darnay Holmes after speaking to the media .
The Post ’ s Giants beat writer Paul Schwartz then joins the crew to give his breakdown of how Gettleman did , the impact McKinney immediately will have as a starter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be and the undrafted receivers the Giants signed .
Schwartz also speaks to how he enjoyed seeing teams draft virtually from home , while also assessing the Judge-Gettleman relationship .
Serby and I also talk about Season 1 of the “ Blue Rush ” podcast and the fun that we have had doing the show .
I have to give a big thanks to Jimmy Failla for anchoring the show through the Super Bowl .
Also , a big thanks to Serby and Paul Schwartz for bringing their insight all season long .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guests we have had on this season : Catch up on all episodes of “ Blue Rush ” by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts .

Dave Gettleman said he would fix the offensive line “once and for all” heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. Well, the general manager sure did get the Giants a couple of offensive linemen that we should see for years to come.
But how well did Gettlema do overall in the draft?
That’s a question we answer to open up the season finale of the “Blue Rush” podcast with me and Post football columnist Steve Serby. What grade did we each give Gettleman? Did he draft too many linebackers? We go into each pick he made, what was good and what was not. Overall, Gettleman filled some major holes and also bolstered special teams, which will make first-year head coach Joe Judge a happy man.
We then hear clips from their second, third and fourth-round picks Xavier McKinney, Matt Peart and Darnay Holmes after speaking to the media.
The Post’s Giants beat writer Paul Schwartz then joins the crew to give his breakdown of how Gettleman did, the impact McKinney immediately will have as a starter, what Peart and Holmes’ roles could be and the undrafted receivers the Giants signed. Schwartz also speaks to how he enjoyed seeing teams draft virtually from home, while also assessing the Judge-Gettleman relationship.
Serby and I also talk about Season 1 of the “Blue Rush” podcast and the fun that we have had doing the show. I have to give a big thanks to Jimmy Failla for anchoring the show through the Super Bowl. Also, a big thanks to Serby and Paul Schwartz for bringing their insight all season long. And finally, a shoutout to all the guests we have had on this season:
Carl Banks, Harry Carson, Ottis Anderson, Mark Bavaro, Jim Fassel, Linda Cohn, Sean Landeta, Phil McConkey, Brandon Jacobs, Vic Dibitetto, Lawrence Tynes, Jonathan Casillas, Chris Canty, Mathias Kiwanuka, Howard Cross, Steve DeOssie, Leonard Marshall, Charles Davis, Pepper Johnson, Dick Vermeil, Ernie Accorsi, Jerome Bettis.
Catch up on all episodes of “Blue Rush,” a New York Giants podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Dimitri Diatchenko, ‘Sons of Anarchy’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ actor, dies at 52

Actor Dimitri Diatchenko , whose turn in Oren Peli ’ s “ Chernobyl Diaries ” earned him praise , has died .
Diatchenko ’ s agent , Roger Paul , confirmed the news to Deadline .
He was 52 .
The actor died suddenly on April 21 in Daytona Beach , FL .
While autopsy results are pending , Diatchenko ’ s agent said the actor ’ s death appeared to be either a heart attack or related to an electric shock on a job the week prior .
A native of San Francisco , Diatchenko was a first-generation American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He landed guest starring and recurring roles on “ Sons of Anarchy , ” “ How I Met Your Mother , ” “ Bones , ” “ 2 Broke Girls ” and “ Criminal Minds.
” His first major screen appearance was a small role as a Navy SEAL in Ridley Scott ’ s Demi Moore starrer “ G.I .
Jane.
” Diatchenko had a knack for portraying Russian characters and did so in the films “ Get Smart , ” “ Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s voice-over work was featured in “ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , ” “ Family Guy ” and “ The Wild Thornberries.
” The actor is survived by his siblings , nieces and nephews .
In lieu of flowers , his family requests that donations be made here .

Actor Dimitri Diatchenko, whose turn in Oren Peli’s “Chernobyl Diaries” earned him praise, has died. Diatchenko’s agent, Roger Paul, confirmed the news to Deadline. He was 52.
The actor died suddenly on April 21 in Daytona Beach, FL. While autopsy results are pending, Diatchenko’s agent said the actor’s death appeared to be either a heart attack or related to an electric shock on a job the week prior.
A native of San Francisco, Diatchenko was a first-generation American of Ukrainian, Greek and Swedish descent. He landed guest starring and recurring roles on “Sons of Anarchy,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Bones,” “2 Broke Girls” and “Criminal Minds.”
His first major screen appearance was a small role as a Navy SEAL in Ridley Scott’s Demi Moore starrer “G.I. Jane.”
Diatchenko had a knack for portraying Russian characters and did so in the films “Get Smart,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “Chernobyl Diaries.”
Diatchenko’s voice-over work was featured in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Family Guy” and “The Wild Thornberries.”
The actor is survived by his siblings, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made here.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--UK ‘miracle baby’ who survived heart surgery defeats coronavirus

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A “ miracle baby ” who contracted the coronavirus in a UK hospital after surviving open-heart surgery has now also survived the deadly bug , according to a report .
Erin Bates , who weighed only 5 pounds , 4 ounces after her birth in October , underwent surgery in December for a heart defect before being infected with COVID-19 .
Harrowing photos showed her tiny body hooked up to a machine supplying oxygen to her at the Alder Hey Children ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks in isolation .
“ Today , Erin beat Covid-19 and received a guard of honour by the treating team on our HDU as she was moved out of isolation , ” a hospital spokesman said , The Sun reported .
The plucky toddler ’ s mom Emma and dad Wayne said : “ Thank you so much to each and every one of them , we couldn ’ t have got through it without them .
“ They are all truly amazing and we will be forever grateful , ” they added @

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A 6-month-old miracle baby in the UK not only survived open-heart surgery — she also beat the coronavirus.
Erin Bates, who weighed only 5 pounds, 4 ounces after her birth in October, underwent surgery in December for a heart defect — then tested positive for COVID-19 on April 10 while still in the hospital.
Photos showed her tiny body hooked up to an oxygen machine at the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, where she spent two weeks in isolation.
Mom Emma Bates finally got the good news that her little girl was coronavirus-free on Friday.
“When I found out, I did a victory dance with the nurses. Erin was laughing and smiling, she is such a little fighter — and character,” she told the Lancashire Telegraph. “We are so proud.”
Nurses and doctors clapped and cheered as Erin was moved from isolation to another ward to continue her recovery and treatment.
“Today, Erin beat COVID-19 and received a guard of honour by the treating team on our HDU as she was moved out of isolation,” a hospital spokesman said.
The tribute from health-care workers moved her mother to tears.
“When we came out into the corridor they were all there clapping and I did cry,” Emma Bates said.
Coronavirus restrictions meant that the plucky baby’s dad, Wayne, was unable to visit during her ordeal.
But Erin’s mom stayed with the infant through the isolation period.
“I have been in the same room with Erin since she was diagnosed, if I was to have left the room I wouldn’t have been able to go back in,” said Emma. “There was no way I was going to do that.”
Not having her husband with them has been “heartbreaking,” she said.
“But we are in touch daily and he can see her,” Emma said. “It has been hard because no one is allowed to give you a hug because of safety precautions.”
Erin is expected to stay in the hospital — where she has been since she was 9 weeks old — as she battles other conditions, including respiratory syncytial virus.
The parents hope Erin’s story will encourage people to stay home and keep others safe during the pandemic
They also expressed their gratitude to their baby’s medical team.
“Thank you so much to each and every one of them, we couldn’t have got through it without them,” Emma and Wayne Bates said. “They are all truly amazing and we will be forever grateful.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Artistic dog is surprisingly good at painting

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This dog is paint-fully cute. Rogan, a 5-year-old miniature Australian shepherd from Alberta, Canada, learned how to paint by holding a brush in his mouth. Every cent of painting sales goes to animal rescue organizations. The artist and his owner, billing technician Megan Bolen, have raised more than $1,000 so far.
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newyorkpost--2020-04-27--North Korean media offers Kim Jong Un letter as proof he’s still alive

Residents in the North Korean capital have resorted to panic-buying ...

With rumors swirling about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a state-run newspaper tried to prove the despot is alive and well by reporting that he has sent a thank-you letter to builders in a seaside resort.
The Rodong Sinmun outlet claimed Monday that Kim penned the message to builders working on a tourism project in Wonsan, where South Korea believes the leader has been staying since April 13, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.
“Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has sent his appreciation to the workers who devoted themselves to building the Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone,” the Rodong Sinmun reported.
The Korean Central Broadcasting Station made a similar report, according to Yonhap.
The reports are the latest about North Korea’s strongman, who has been the subject of rampant speculation in recent days that he had died, was in a vegetative state, or — as South Korea says — is absolutely fine.
The US monitoring website 38 North has reported that satellite imagery showed what appeared to be Kim’s personal train parked at a station in “his Wonsan compound since at least April 21.”
“The train’s presence does not prove the whereabouts of the North Korean leader or indicate anything about his health, but it does lend weight to reports that Kim is staying at an elite area on the country’s eastern coast,” it reported.
Questions about the reclusive dictator’s health flared after he missed an April 15 commemoration of the 108th birthday of his grandfather, the Hermit Kingdom’s founder, Kim Il Sung.
Meanwhile, other unverified rumors are that Kim may have been injured during a recent missile test and that he went into hiding after one of his bodyguards was suspected to have contracted COVID-19, according to the Mirror.
A unnamed source in China told the South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo that Kim skipped the birthday bash for his late grandfather because of his guard’s possible infection, the UK news outlet reported.
Another South Korean outlet, Dong-A Ilbo, quoted an unnamed US official as saying Kim left Pyongyang for Wonsan to avoid the virus, the Mirror reported.
Moon Chung-in, a special security adviser to South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in, said Sunday in an interview with Fox News that Kim is “alive and well.”
Kim was last seen at a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party to discuss the coronavirus threat on April 11. He is claimed to have undergone heart surgery the following day.
President Trump has indicated he believes reports that Kim is in failing health are “fake.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Nancy Pelosi endorses Joe Biden for president

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday endorsed former Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden – saying he can help guide the US out of the coronavirus crisis .
“ As we face coronavirus , Joe has been a voice of reason and resilience , with a clear path to lead us out of this crisis , ” Pelosi said in a prerecorded video .
The California Democrat also cited Biden ’ s experience helping to pass the Affordable Care Act and implementing the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act .
Her endorsement follows former President Barack Obama , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
, among others , in backing Biden in taped testimonials .
“ When our nation faced the Great Recession , it was Joe Biden who led the implementation — and the accountability — of the Recovery Act , helping create and save millions of jobs , ” Pelosi said .
“ When the Democratic Congress was passing the Affordable Care Act , Joe Biden was a partner for progress in the White House and also championed the Cancer Moonshot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud to endorse Joe Biden for president : a leader who is the personification of hope and courage , values , authenticity and integrity , ” Pelosi added in the video .
“ With so much at stake , we need the enthusiasm , invigoration and participation of all Americans — up and down the ballot , and across the country .
”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday endorsed former Vice President and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden — saying he can help guide the US out of the coronavirus crisis.
“As we face coronavirus, Joe has been a voice of reason and resilience, with a clear path to lead us out of this crisis,” Pelosi said in a prerecorded video.
The California Democrat also cited Biden’s experience helping to pass the Affordable Care Act and implementing the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Her endorsement follows former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Al Gore, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), among others, in backing Biden in taped testimonials.
“When our nation faced the Great Recession, it was Joe Biden who led the implementation — and the accountability — of the Recovery Act, helping create and save millions of jobs,” Pelosi said.
“When the Democratic Congress was passing the Affordable Care Act, Joe Biden was a partner for progress in the White House and also championed the Cancer Moonshot,” she continued.
“I am proud to endorse Joe Biden for president: a leader who is the personification of hope and courage, values, authenticity and integrity,” Pelosi added in the video.
“With so much at stake, we need the enthusiasm, invigoration and participation of all Americans — up and down the ballot, and across the country.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Nearly half of NYC residents know someone who has died from coronavirus, poll shows

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Nearly half of New York City residents said they know someone who has died from the coronavirus — a stunning finding that reveals how deeply the disease that has ravaged the Big Apple , according to a new poll released Monday .
The statewide Sienna College survey found that 46 percent of city residents known someone killed by COVID-19 , as do 36 percent of suburbanites and 13 percent of upstaters .
In all , about one-third of voters statewide know someone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly impacted New York ’ s minority communities — with 52 percent of Latino voters and 48 percent of black voters knowing someone who has died , compared to 25 percent of whites .
“ The human toll is almost unfathomable , ” said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg .
“ Half of Latino and black voters know someone who has passed away from this insidious virus.
” The overall death toll from COVID-19 statewide rose to 16,966 , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo reported Sunday .
Meanwhile , 51 percent of voters statewide said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus — mostly downstate .
The poll found that 60 percent of New York City respondents and 67 percent of suburbanites know someone who had COVID , compared to 30 percent of upstaters .
“ Last month , fewer than one-third of New Yorkers knew someone who had tested positive for coronavirus .
Today , 51 percent personally know someone who has been infected with COVID-19 , ” Siena ’ s Greenberg said .
The economic toll also has been devastating , with 32 percent of respondents saying they or someone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic .
Nearly half of Latino voters – 48 percent – said the pandemic has put either them or a family member out of work , compared with 30 percent of both white and black households .
Hispanics are disproportionately represented in the hard-hit food service and hotel industries , largely closed by social distance restrictions .
The unemployment results confirm the economic anxiety New Yorkers expressed in a Siena College survey about the pandemic last month .
“ To say the coronavirus has had a tremendously detrimental effect on New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downstate — is a gross understatement , ” Greenberg said .
“ Nineteen percent of voters have themselves been laid off and another 13 percent say someone in their household has been laid off , ” Greenberg said .
This Siena College Poll was conducted April 19-23 and queried 803 New York State registered voters .
It has an overall margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.7 percentage points .

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Nearly half of New York City residents said they know someone who has died from the coronavirus — a stunning finding that reveals how deeply the disease that has ravaged the Big Apple, according to a new poll released Monday.
The statewide Siena College survey found that 46 percent of city residents known someone killed by COVID-19, as do 36 percent of suburbanites and 13 percent of upstaters. In all, about one-third of voters statewide know someone who has died.
The killer virus has particularly impacted New York’s minority communities — with 52 percent of Latino voters and 48 percent of black voters knowing someone who has died, compared to 25 percent of whites.
“The human toll is almost unfathomable,” said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg. “Half of Latino and black voters know someone who has passed away from this insidious virus.”
The overall death toll from COVID-19 statewide rose to 16,966, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported Sunday.
Meanwhile, 51 percent of voters statewide said they know someone who is infected with the virus — mostly downstate.
Her are some of the other findings:
— 69 percent of voters believe New York won’t reopen for business without widespread COVID testing;
— 67 percent said large gatherings will be permitted this summer;
— 36 percent of New Yorkers have received a stimulus check or direct deposit from the federal government, while 62 percent haven’t;
— 92 percent support the requirement for wearing a face mask in public;
— 87 percent support Gov. Cuomo’s decision to extend New York’s “On Pause” restrictions, which include keeping schools and non-essential businesses closed, until at least May 15;
— 52 percent oppose releasing inmates with pre-existing conditions or who are over the age of 70 during the pandemic, while 37 percent support the release;
“Last month, fewer than one-third of New Yorkers knew someone who had tested positive for coronavirus. Today, 51 percent personally know someone who has been infected with COVID-19,” Siena’s Greenberg said.
The economic toll also has been devastating, with 32 percent of respondents saying they or someone in their households has been laid off because of the pandemic.
Nearly half of Latino voters – 48 percent – said the pandemic has put either them or a family member out of work, compared with 30 percent of both white and black households.
Hispanics are disproportionately represented in the hard-hit food service and hotel industries, largely closed by social distance restrictions.
The unemployment results confirm the economic anxiety New Yorkers expressed in a Siena College survey about the pandemic last month.
“To say the coronavirus has had a tremendously detrimental effect on New York’s workforce — upstate and downstate — is a gross understatement,” Greenberg said.
“Nineteen percent of voters have themselves been laid off and another 13 percent say someone in their household has been laid off,” Greenberg said.
This Siena College Poll was conducted April 19-23 and queried 803 New York State registered voters. It has an overall margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.7 percentage points.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Woman takes NYPD patrol car for joyride, gets caught in traffic

A woman was arrested for allegedly stealing a marked NYPD cop car in Harlem on Saturday night , law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ , 28 , is accused of swiping the patrol car belonging to the 25th Precinct @ @ @ @ @ the corner of East 132nd Street and Madison Avenue at about 11:15 p.m. , sources @ @ @ @ @ had been using the car was responding to a foot pursuit in the area .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ s keys when he got out of the vehicle , sources said .
Moses @ @ @ @ @ the keys and took the car for a drive , striking another NYPD vehicle driven @ @ @ @ @ getting caught in traffic on the Madison Avenue Bridge , sources said .
Moses , @ @ @ @ @ , was charged with grand larceny auto , criminal possession of stolen property and reckless @ @ @ @ @ during the incident , sources said .

A woman was arrested for allegedly stealing a marked NYPD cop car in Harlem on Saturday night, law enforcement sources said.
Kassie Moses, 28, is accused of swiping the patrol car belonging to the 25th Precinct while it was parked at the corner of East 132nd Street and Madison Avenue at about 11:15 p.m., sources said.
The officer who had been using the car was responding to a foot pursuit in the area. He inadvertently dropped the car’s keys when he got out of the vehicle, sources said.
Moses, of Harlem, found the keys and took the car for a drive, striking another NYPD vehicle driven by a captain, before getting caught in traffic on the Madison Avenue Bridge, sources said.
Moses, who has 12 prior arrests, was charged with grand larceny auto, criminal possession of stolen property and reckless endangerment.
Nobody was injured during the incident, sources said.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Ashley Madison says cyber affairs have surged under coronavirus quarantine

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Cyber affairs are thriving during the coronavirus pandemic as people in sexless marriages are quarantined at home with their spouses .
Married couples locked inside together are in desperate need of satisfaction and have been seeking cybersex in troves , according to a new report released by Ashley Madison — a website aimed for cheating spouses .
Ashley Madison has added 17,000 new members a day in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic , compared to 15,500 new members a day in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members , and they ’ re saying they ’ re using the site as a release valve for the tension that ’ s built up at home during the pandemic , ” Paul Keable , the chief strategy officer of Ashley Madison , said in an interview with Venture Beat .
“ They ’ re looking to have needs met that aren ’ t being met at home.
” Some people want to chat with someone other than a spouse , while others are seeking emotional validation or the fantasy of pursuing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The website even has a new tagline during this crisis , “ Life is short .
Have an affair.
” In its most recent study , the site found 30 percent of its female users are having cybersex with their affair partners and 14 percent of its male users were having virtual sex with their affair partners .
“ Now with self-isolation a major factor in our lives , virtual affairs are being utilized to fill the gap , ” Keable told Instyle .
“ Often it ’ s a physical component @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking an affair discreetly , they ’ re able to maintain all the aspects of life that they value and enjoy , ” added Keable .
The website also asked members if they ’ re trying to spice up their sex life with their spouses while socially distancing –- with 76 percent of respondents saying no .

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Cyber affairs are thriving during the coronavirus pandemic as people in sexless marriages are quarantined at home with their spouses.
Married couples locked inside together are in desperate need of satisfaction and have been seeking cybersex in troves, according to a new report released by Ashley Madison — a website aimed for cheating spouses.
Ashley Madison has added 17,000 new members a day in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 15,500 new members a day in 2019.
“We’ve spoken to members, and they’re saying they’re using the site as a release valve for the tension that’s built up at home during the pandemic,” Paul Keable, the chief strategy officer of Ashley Madison, said in an interview with Venture Beat. “They’re looking to have needs met that aren’t being met at home.”
Some people want to chat with someone other than a spouse, while others are seeking emotional validation or the fantasy of pursuing a secret sex life, the study said.
The website even has a new tagline during this crisis, “Life is short. Have an affair.”
In its most recent study, the site found 30 percent of its female users are having cybersex with their affair partners and 14 percent of its male users were having virtual sex with their affair partners.
“Now with self-isolation a major factor in our lives, virtual affairs are being utilized to fill the gap,” Keable told Instyle.
“Often it’s a physical component, from an intimacy standpoint. By seeking an affair discreetly, they’re able to maintain all the aspects of life that they value and enjoy,” added Keable.
The website also asked members if they’re trying to spice up their sex life with their spouses while socially distancing –- with 76 percent of respondents saying no.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Kristen Bell records video of Dax Shepard performing surgery on his own hand

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) A post shared by kristen bell ( @ kristenanniebell ) on Apr 24 , 2020 at 4:03pm PDT Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Self-isolating has people turning to their own devices for everything — even surgery .
After recently injuring his arm , Dax Shepard chose to remove pins from his hand while his wife , Kristen Bell , recorded the ordeal .
Bell shared the video of her 45-year-old husband to Instagram .
In the clip , Shepard apparently was on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into his cast and removed a clean pin .
“ Alright , I ’ m going to commence the procedure , ” Shepard said in the video .
“ Oh , yep , that feels weird.
” Shepard then removed the full pin from his hand as he cheered and Bell , 39 , gasped .
“ It ’ s out , ” he told the doctor .
“ It ’ s out , there ’ s no blood spurting anywhere .
I ’ m coming for your job , doctor .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my resume now.
” As Shepard said , there was no blood from removing the pin , which came out quickly , easily and cleanly .
“ Am I the worst patient you ’ ve ever had ?
” the actor joked .
“ I ’ m texting you nonstop , now I ’ m pulling pins out you put in.
” Bell shared the video on Friday , writing , “ We ’ re on day ‘ I can do my own surgery ’ of quarantine , ” in the caption @

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A post shared by kristen bell (@kristenanniebell) on Apr 24, 2020 at 4:03pm PDT
Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Self-isolating has people turning to their own devices for everything — even surgery.
After recently injuring his arm, Dax Shepard chose to remove pins from his hand while his wife, Kristen Bell, recorded the ordeal.
Bell shared the video of her 45-year-old husband to Instagram.
In the clip, Shepard apparently was on the phone with his doctor as he reached into his cast and removed a clean pin.
“Alright, I’m going to commence the procedure,” Shepard said in the video. “Oh, yep, that feels weird.”
Shepard then removed the full pin from his hand as he cheered and Bell, 39, gasped.
“It’s out,” he told the doctor. “It’s out, there’s no blood spurting anywhere. I’m coming for your job, doctor. I’m going to add pin removal to my resume now.”
As Shepard said, there was no blood from removing the pin, which came out quickly, easily and cleanly.
“Am I the worst patient you’ve ever had?” the actor joked. “I’m texting you nonstop, now I’m pulling pins out you put in.”
Bell shared the video on Friday, writing, “We’re on day ‘I can do my own surgery’ of quarantine,” in the caption.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--El Paso Walmart shooting victim dies, months after attack

A victim of the mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart last summer has died from his injuries , a hospital official said Sunday , raising the death toll to 23 .
“ After a nearly nine-month fight , our hearts are heavy as we report Guillermo ‘ Memo ’ Garcia , our last remaining patient being treated from the El Paso shooting , has passed away , ” the CEO of Del Sol Medical Center , David Shimp , said in a statement .
Garcia was in the Walmart parking lot fundraising for his daughter ’ s soccer team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when suspected gunman Patrick Crusius , 21 , opened fire in an attack targeting Hispanics .
Crusius is in jail awaiting trial .
He told police he targeted Mexicans when he walked into the Texas retailer with an AK-47 assault rifle Aug. 3 and began firing — with eight Mexican citizens among the dead .
He also posted a racist screed online complaining of the “ Hispanic invasion of Texas , ” writing that he was “ simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are pursuing the death penalty .
Federal prosecutors charged him with hate crimes .

A victim of the mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart last summer has died from his injuries, a hospital official said Sunday, raising the death toll to 23.
“After a nearly nine-month fight, our hearts are heavy as we report Guillermo ‘Memo’ Garcia, our last remaining patient being treated from the El Paso shooting, has passed away,” the CEO of Del Sol Medical Center, David Shimp, said in a statement.
Garcia was in the Walmart parking lot fundraising for his daughter’s soccer team with his wife, Jessica Coca Garcia, when suspected gunman Patrick Crusius, 21, opened fire in an attack targeting Hispanics.
Garcia’s wife survived the shooting, suffering leg wounds.
Crusius is in jail awaiting trial. He told police he targeted Mexicans when he walked into the Texas retailer with an AK-47 assault rifle Aug. 3 and began firing — with eight Mexican citizens among the dead.
He also posted a racist screed online complaining of the “Hispanic invasion of Texas,” writing that he was “simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion.”
State prosecutors have charged Crusius with murder and are pursuing the death penalty. Federal prosecutors charged him with hate crimes.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-04-26--Michigan state senator apologizes for ‘Confederate flag’ face mask

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A Michigan state senator has apologized for wearing a protective face mask with a pattern that resembled the Confederate flag .
Dale Zorn , a Republican from Ida , had been blasted by other lawmakers for the “ deeply hurtful ” homemade mask he wore Friday on the Michigan Senate floor .
“ Frankly , I ’ m at a loss for words other than to say I ’ m just really disappointed to see him make a choice that is deeply hurtful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ananich , Senate Democratic Leader of Michigan , had tweeted .
Some 600 people had also signed a Change.org petition calling for Zorn ’ s resignation .
The senator issued a statement on social media Saturday , saying he was sorry to have offended .
“ I ’ m sorry for my choice of pattern on the face mask I wore yesterday on the Senate floor .
I did not intend to offend anyone ; however , I realize that I did , and for that I am sorry , ” Zorn said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those who know me best know that I do not support the things this pattern represents , ” he said , adding “ My actions were an error in judgment for which there are no excuses and I will learn from this episode.
” Debates over symbols of the Confederacy have heated up in recent years , given that they represent racism and slavery to many Americans .
Last week , the Marine Corps banned all Confederate flags , bumper stickers and similar items from its bases .
In an interview with local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the face covering , which his wife made , wasn ’ t meant to represent the Confederate emblem .
“ I told my wife it probably will raise some eyebrows , but it was not a Confederate flag , ” Zorn said .
He said his wife told him that the pattern was “ more similar to ” the Kentucky or Tennessee state flags .
But even if it had meant to represent the Confederacy , Zorn said the symbol is a part of US history and “ something we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And if we want to make sure that the atrocities that happened during that time doesn ’ t happen again , we should be teaching it , ” he said .
“ Our kids should know what that flag stands for .
”

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A Michigan state senator has apologized for wearing a protective face mask with a pattern that resembled the Confederate flag.
Dale Zorn, a Republican from Ida, had been blasted by other lawmakers for the “deeply hurtful” homemade mask he wore Friday on the Michigan Senate floor.
“Frankly, I’m at a loss for words other than to say I’m just really disappointed to see him make a choice that is deeply hurtful to so many people,” Jim Ananich, Senate Democratic Leader of Michigan, had tweeted.
Some 600 people had also signed a Change.org petition calling for Zorn’s resignation.
The senator issued a statement on social media Saturday, saying he was sorry to have offended.
“I’m sorry for my choice of pattern on the face mask I wore yesterday on the Senate floor. I did not intend to offend anyone; however, I realize that I did, and for that I am sorry,” Zorn said in a statement on Saturday.
“Those who know me best know that I do not support the things this pattern represents,” he said, adding “My actions were an error in judgment for which there are no excuses and I will learn from this episode.”
Debates over symbols of the Confederacy have heated up in recent years, given that they represent racism and slavery to many Americans.
Last week, the Marine Corps banned all Confederate flags, bumper stickers and similar items from its bases.
In an interview with local outlet WLNS on Friday, Zorn had said that the face covering, which his wife made, wasn’t meant to represent the Confederate emblem.
“I told my wife it probably will raise some eyebrows, but it was not a Confederate flag,” Zorn said.
He said his wife told him that the pattern was “more similar to” the Kentucky or Tennessee state flags.
But even if it had meant to represent the Confederacy, Zorn said the symbol is a part of US history and “something we can’t just throw away.”
“And if we want to make sure that the atrocities that happened during that time doesn’t happen again, we should be teaching it,” he said. “Our kids should know what that flag stands for.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-26--Yankees’ Kyle Higashioka dives deep into art of catching, downtime activities

Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka takes Post readers behind the scenes as he tries to stay prepared for the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic .
As told to Ken Davidoff .
Greetings from Oregon .
Let me start by expressing my sympathies about Anthony Causi , The Post ’ s photographer who died of the coronavirus on April 12 .
While I didn ’ t get to know Anthony , my wife , Alyse , actually sat next to him on a flight home from Minnesota after we eliminated the Twins in last year ’ s playoffs .
Alyse said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she saw that he passed , she was shocked .
I saw CC Sabathia ’ s Instagram post about Anthony , and that helped me appreciate how much guys liked and respected him .
I ’ m sorry to hear this news , and I extend my best to all of Anthony ’ s family , friends and co-workers .
I can still remember being in West Palm Beach with the Yankees on March 12 .
I was catching for us that day and talking to the umpire Angel Hernandez behind the plate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yeah , they ’ re about to shut this thing down.
” And they did , that day .
I know Angel said to the press afterward , “ See you in June.
” He was saying the same thing during the game .
I was saying , “ I don ’ t know .
It can ’ t be that long.
” But now he could be right .
Actually , at this point , I hope he ’ s right .
I would say I ’ m cautiously optimistic that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think everybody is on board in trying to pull for a season , trying to figure out some way to get it done , but there definitely are a lot of obstacles .
I can ’ t deny it ’ s going to be difficult to pull off , but I think as a whole , we ’ d be pretty happy to play a season in any capacity , maybe just try to provide everyone a chance to heal through baseball .
Baseball has kind of been there through everything .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not get a chance to play in New York this year because of how badly it has been hit by the virus .
The other day , we had a team Zoom call with the players , Aaron Boone and the coaches .
It was good to see everybody and catch up .
It was pretty funny to see a lot of guys with beards .
As far as my activities when I ’ m not working out , I ’ ve been mixing it up .
I recently got “ Total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn-based strategy game .
You fight battles in real-time .
It ’ s so immersive .
You ’ ve got to deal with diplomacy , keep your people happy , and at the same time , you have to succeed in your mission , which in this case is conquering feudal Japan .
Speaking of Japan , I spoke publicly a few years ago about my desire to learn more Japanese , as I ’ m fourth-generation Japanese-American on my father ’ s side .
I haven ’ t been working on it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s tough to do when you don ’ t have anyone to practice it with .
In spring training , Shingo Horie , Masahiro Tanaka ’ s interpreter , has given me Japanese lessons .
But once the season starts , it ’ s a whole different beast .
I don ’ t have as much free time as you would think I have .
I ’ m showing up at 12:30 at the ballpark for a night game , and I ’ m always doing something .
The level of preparation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in-season , as a catcher — especially one without a great deal of major-league experience — you don ’ t have any free time , even when you show up six and a half hours before the game .
In addition to my own physical preparation of workouts and drills , I ’ m grinding down on video and heat maps , figuring out how to pitch everyone for the first time .
When you catch against somebody , you get to fact check your research against what actually happens in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because unless you see hitters have significantly changed something , you know how to pitch to those guys .
Next time , I ’ ll tell you how I became a catcher .
It ’ s a funny story .
And I hope that next time , we ’ ll have even more optimism about having a baseball season this year .

Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka takes Post readers behind the scenes as he tries to stay prepared for the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic. As told to Ken Davidoff.
Greetings from Oregon. Let me start by expressing my sympathies about Anthony Causi, The Post’s photographer who died of the coronavirus on April 12.
While I didn’t get to know Anthony, my wife, Alyse, actually sat next to him on a flight home from Minnesota after we eliminated the Twins in last year’s playoffs. Alyse said that Anthony was really friendly. When she saw that he passed, she was shocked. I saw CC Sabathia’s Instagram post about Anthony, and that helped me appreciate how much guys liked and respected him. I’m sorry to hear this news, and I extend my best to all of Anthony’s family, friends and co-workers.
I can still remember being in West Palm Beach with the Yankees on March 12. I was catching for us that day and talking to the umpire Angel Hernandez behind the plate. He was saying, “Oh yeah, they’re about to shut this thing down.” And they did, that day. I know Angel said to the press afterward, “See you in June.” He was saying the same thing during the game. I was saying, “I don’t know. It can’t be that long.” But now he could be right. Actually, at this point, I hope he’s right.
I would say I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ll have a baseball season. I think everybody is on board in trying to pull for a season, trying to figure out some way to get it done, but there definitely are a lot of obstacles. I can’t deny it’s going to be difficult to pull off, but I think as a whole, we’d be pretty happy to play a season in any capacity, maybe just try to provide everyone a chance to heal through baseball. Baseball has kind of been there through everything. However, I am concerned that we may not get a chance to play in New York this year because of how badly it has been hit by the virus.
The other day, we had a team Zoom call with the players, Aaron Boone and the coaches. It was good to see everybody and catch up. It was pretty funny to see a lot of guys with beards.
As far as my activities when I’m not working out, I’ve been mixing it up. I recently got “Total War: Shogun 2,” a turn-based strategy game. You fight battles in real-time. It’s so immersive. You’ve got to deal with diplomacy, keep your people happy, and at the same time, you have to succeed in your mission, which in this case is conquering feudal Japan.
Speaking of Japan, I spoke publicly a few years ago about my desire to learn more Japanese, as I’m fourth-generation Japanese-American on my father’s side. I haven’t been working on it that much during this downtime. It’s tough to do when you don’t have anyone to practice it with. In spring training, Shingo Horie, Masahiro Tanaka’s interpreter, has given me Japanese lessons. But once the season starts, it’s a whole different beast. I don’t have as much free time as you would think I have.
I’m showing up at 12:30 at the ballpark for a night game, and I’m always doing something. The level of preparation at the big-league level is so intense that in-season, as a catcher — especially one without a great deal of major-league experience — you don’t have any free time, even when you show up six and a half hours before the game.
In addition to my own physical preparation of workouts and drills, I’m grinding down on video and heat maps, figuring out how to pitch everyone for the first time. When you catch against somebody, you get to fact check your research against what actually happens in a game. And then your preparation changes, because unless you see hitters have significantly changed something, you know how to pitch to those guys.
Next time, I’ll tell you how I became a catcher. It’s a funny story. And I hope that next time, we’ll have even more optimism about having a baseball season this year.


newyorkpost--2020-04-26--How Giants plan to overcome major hole left after NFL Draft

The three S ’ s of the Giants ’ draft class are safe , ...

There was this feeling entering the 2020 NFL Draft that after the Redskins took Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick, there was a wide gap to find the next-best pass rusher.
The Giants engaged in that search, but did not come up with anyone. Of the 10 players they selected, seven were on defense, including six of the seven picks they made in Rounds 4-7. There was one safety, two cornerbacks and four linebackers, and the only one with evidence of sacks on his college résumé is Carter Coughlin of Minnesota, taken at pick No. 218, meaning expectations should be tempered.
In free agency, the only player signed with any notable work as a pass rusher was Kyler Fackrell, an outside linebacker from the Packers who had 10.5 sacks in 2018 and a total of only six in his other three NFL seasons.
So, help is not exactly coming over the mountain. There will not be a cavalry charge of sack artists arriving to save the day as new head coach Joe Judge assembles his first Giants roster.
In other words: If the Giants want to apply pressure on the opposing quarterback, they have to figure something out with what they’ve got.
“It’s one of those deals where, as I’ve said before, sometimes people think that all of the sacks have got to come from one to two guys,’’ general manager Dave Gettleman said following the draft. “It’s a group effort. Roster building is a 12-month season. It’s 365 and it’s 24/7. At the end of the day, we feel good about where we’re at, but we’ll continue to try to improve it.
“We’re going to take a look at what we’ve got and you know part of it’s going to be scheme. I’ve got a lot of confidence in [defensive coordinator] Pat Graham and Joe and the defensive guys. We’re going to be fine. It’ll get better. No, we didn’t draft what you guys would call a ‘blue-goose’ pass rusher, but a lot of the time it’s a group effort. It’s not about who gets the sacks, it’s about the number of sacks and the number of pressures.’’
It looks as if the Giants do not have to concern themselves with one or two guys getting the majority of the sacks, considering the dearth of proven playmaking ability to generate sacks on the roster. They had 36 sacks last season, ranking 22nd in the league, and the leader of the group, outside linebacker Markus Golden with 10, remains unsigned and a free agent. Perhaps the Giants, with the draft complete, will circle back to Golden, but there are no indications they are headed in that direction. Judge and Graham want the most versatile players they can find on defense and Golden does not seem to be a scheme fit.
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The Giants used four of their last give picks on linebackers, an indication of how they want to configure their defense.
“I think it says a lot more about how our defensive scheme fits together,’’ Judge said. “That we are going to play with a lot of linebackers throughout the game.’’
The expectation is Graham will use a 3-4 front as his base defense, but it will be multiple, with different looks on a game-to-game and even quarter-to-quarter basis. Outside linebackers Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines, with 4.5 sacks apiece last season, must emerge as outside rushers.
Fackrell has to show his 2018 season was not a fluke. Maybe Dexter Lawrence can improve his pass-rush skills on the interior of the line, freeing up Leonard Williams to apply pressure, as Williams has shown in his career he needs help cashing in with sacks. Perhaps Coughlin, with 20.5 sacks in his college career, can add something.
“He’s a guy that gives us more speed on the edge,’’ Judge said. “He brings some length with him. He plays with a high motor and a lot of aggressiveness. He was productive in Minnesota’s scheme and with the way we are going to play guys on the edge in different packages, he’s someone with a lot of value.’’
Anyone who displays any prowess whatsoever getting to the quarterback has value to the Giants.


newyorkpost--2020-04-26--John Mara all in on Giants plan: ‘We better be a better team’

He has been lambasted , harpooned and nearly fired along with ...

John Mara is pleased with how Dave Gettleman and Joe Judge conducted the 2020 Virtual NFL Draft together and addressed the offensive line, and can now see Blue skies up above.
“I do believe that we’re on the right path,” the Giants co-owner told The Post on Sunday night. “But I’m sure our fans are saying, ‘I’ve heard you say that before.’ So until we start winning games, I understand there’s gonna be some doubt. But I do feel good about where we are right now.”
Mara was elated that Gettleman and Judge went hog wild on the offensive line with No. 1 pick tackle Andrew Thomas, third-round pick tackle Matt Peart and fifth-round pick guard Shane Lemieux.
“These guys gotta prove themselves as players, but that was the focus going into the draft,” Mara said. “It’s something I’ve been banging on them for a while, we really had to get this fixed once and for all.
“In football, once you have the quarterback, you better have an offensive line. It sets the tone for the rest of the team, and if you’re not blocking for the quarterback or for the running back, then you have very little chance.”
Mara, who is confident he has that quarterback in Daniel Jones and running back in Saquon Barkley, was encouraged with the collaboration and teamwork between Gettleman and Judge.
“It was terrific, they had great communication,” Mara said. “There’s a lot of discussions, a lot of meetings, and I was really pleased with the way the whole team operated. They obviously respect one another, and I was very pleased with how it all worked out. You never know how that’s gonna work out with a new head coach and a general manager that’s been around the league for a while, and I thought that their communication was excellent.
“I thought it went far more smoothly than I ever could have imagined.”
Gettleman and Judge appear to be philosophically aligned.
“I think that’s a fair statement,” Mara said. “I don’t think they agree 100 percent of the time, but I think they have a lot of respect for one another and they talk it through, and that was pretty evident during this entire process.”
Asked for his early impressions of Judge, Mara said: “He’s very thorough. He does his homework. He’s got great relationships with other coaches around the country who he communicates with. He sees the big picture and so far so good.”
Mara laughed when reminded of Judge cautioning draftees to forget about thinking they can take over the world because they have no idea what being a pro entails.
“It almost sounds like something Tom Coughlin or Bill Parcells would have said, to be honest,” Mara said.
Asked if he’s glad he brought Gettleman back after putting him on the hot seat, Mara said: “Absolutely.”
Gettleman has caught heat for surrendering a third-round draft pick this year for franchise-tagged defensive tackle Leonard Williams. Mara has no such complaint.
“Leonard Williams is better than any player we could have drafted in the third round this year, that much I will say,” Mara said. “And we hope at some point to get him signed.”
Gettleman is hoping a bolstered secondary and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s schemes can allay concerns the Giants can manufacture a pass rush.
“You can always use more pass rushers,” Mara said. “I’m comforted by the fact that our defensive staff and the head coach seem to like the guys that we have.”
Linebacker Carter Coughlin, who has pass-rush promise, was drafted in the seventh round. Never a bad thing to bring a Coughlin — no relation to Tom Coughlin — back in the building.
“That is pretty ironic right now,” Mara said, and chuckled.
The Giants didn’t draft a center, but Mara said he didn’t feel it was an overriding need.
“We’ve got some options there, and I know that the Lemieux kid that we drafted from Oregon has a chance to be a center,” Mara said. “We’re hoping [Jon] Halapio comes back [from his Achilles injury] and we still got Spencer Pulley.”
Gettleman and Judge employed a judicious, cost-effective approach in free agency.
“I thought we did a good job in free agency,” Mara said. “We should be a better team this year; we better be a better team this year.”
Mara has yet to meet Abby Judge, the head coach’s golden retriever who stayed home while Judge worked the draft from his apartment near MetLife Stadium.
“Everybody has their own style, what can I tell you?” Mara said, and laughed. “Abby didn’t make it down to the draft like [Bill] Belichick’s dog did.”
No one, of course, knows when or if there will be an NFL season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NFL, as all the professional leagues, is waiting on guidance from the health professionals and authorities.
“It’s a little bit early to be making predictions on that,” Mara said. “Obviously we’re all hopeful we’ll have a season.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-26--Here’s Andrew Cuomo’s plan for New York getting back to normal

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced over the weekend that testing for the coronavirus would dramatically expand across New York .
Here ’ s how it will work and impact the Empire State ’ s eventual reopening , according to state health officials .
Q .
If you get tested , does the result automatically go into some kind of database ?
A .
Yes , your result will be logged into both a state and county database through an electronic lab reporting system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Q .
If you test positive , what happens ?
A .
You should be notified of your result by your county health department and ordered to quarantine for 14 days from the date of your last symptom .
You also will be asked who you have come into personal contact with and to what extent .
At least some of those people may be told to quarantine as well .
Local health departments will typically require some kind of daily monitoring , including phone calls , texts or even an in-person visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test is not required to finish your quarantine .
Q .
How does this affect the state ’ s reopening ?
A .
Testing is just one piece of the puzzle , officials say .
It will be used as a marker to help indicate whether the virus is continuing to thrive , as will such factors as hospitalization and death rates .
Q .
Is there a specific number of tests that health officials believe need to be done before the state reopens ?
A .
No .
Test results will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see what the trend is .
Q .
Is it clear that COVID-19 leaves survivors with antibodies so they can ’ t catch it again ?
A .
Tests are still being conducted to determine if that ’ s the case and whether any antibodies produced might provide a lifelong protection against COVID-19 or if there may be a time limit to that coverage .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced over the weekend that testing for the coronavirus would dramatically expand across New York. Here’s how it will work and impact the Empire State’s eventual reopening, according to state health officials.
Q. If you get tested, does the result automatically go into some kind of database?
A. Yes, your result will be logged into both a state and county database through an electronic lab reporting system. The database includes your name.
Q. If you test positive, what happens?
A. You should be notified of your result by your county health department and ordered to quarantine for 14 days from the date of your last symptom. You also will be asked whom you have come into personal contact with and to what extent. At least some of those people may be told to quarantine as well.
Local health departments will typically require some kind of daily monitoring, including phone calls, texts or even an in-person visit.
At this stage, a negative test is not required to finish your quarantine.
Q. How does this affect the state’s reopening?
A. Testing is just one piece of the puzzle, officials say. It will be used as a marker to help indicate whether the virus is continuing to thrive, as will such factors as hospitalization and death rates.
Q. Is there a specific number of tests that health officials believe need to be done before the state reopens?
A. No. Test results will be constantly monitored along with other major factors to see what the trend is.
Q. Is it clear that COVID-19 leaves survivors with antibodies so they can’t catch it again?
A. Tests are still being conducted to determine if that’s the case and whether any antibodies produced might provide a lifelong protection against COVID-19 or if there may be a time limit to that coverage.


newyorkpost--2020-04-26--Studios take cues from video-game tech after delayed productions

Despite the massive amounts of TV and movie-watching about to ...

Hollywood studios are quietly turning to video-game technology as they look to get production shoots delayed by the coronavirus back on schedule, The Post has learned.
Armed with virtual-reality tools created by companies like Fortnite creator Epic Games and Pokemon Go’s Unity Technologies, special-effects gurus are creating computer-generated virtual sets for upcoming films and series from big studios like Disney and Netflix, industry insiders say.
The cutting-edge tech — in which actors are shot inside studios whose walls and ceilings are giant, 4K-resolution LED video screens that can depict, say, a desert backdrop, a rainforest or the interior of a space station — has already been put to use in mega-budget productions like Netflix’s “The Irishman” and Disney’s “Mandalorian” TV series.
Now, a slew of other big studios are in talks to start using it, including Warner Bros., Paramount, Hulu and CBS’ television studio, according to sources close to the situation. The migration toward virtual sets is likely to continue long after the crisis ebbs, they say.
The critical advantage is that virtual movie sets can be assembled to meticulous perfection — from interplanetary landscapes to domestic interiors — by computer geeks working from home. While actors and crews wait out coronavirus lockdowns, the color of the sky or the flapping wings of a pterodactyl can all be manipulated by directors.
“It can get you into production quickly,” notes Kim Libreri, chief technology officer at Epic Games.
Epic’s Unreal technology was used to create ”The Mandalorian,” including the vast desert backdrop for the fight scene in the first episode between Pedro Pascal’s character and the rhino-like Mudhorn creature.
Virtual landscapes will become increasingly typical given the steep costs and uncertainties of travel in the coming months, Libreri says, even in a post-pandemic climate. “The logistics of moving a crew to different locations, it’s just a pretty big deal.”
During the past few weeks, stay-at-home orders have halted progress on a large slate of upcoming films and TV shows. Paramount Pictures’ “Mission: Impossible 7” had been shooting in Italy until the coronavirus hit. Also stopped were Warner Bros.’ “The Batman,” Universal Pictures’ “Jurassic World 3” and Apple’s “The Morning Show,” starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston.
Nevertheless, pre-production for “The Mandalorian” Season 3 is currently underway, according to a Deadline Hollywood report.
The LED-screen-based tech has a leg up over the traditional “green screen” method, which shoots an actor against a green backdrop and adds the background later, says Habib Zargarpour, head of film development for Digital Monarch Media, a division of Unity Technologies, which did the visual effects for “Blade Runner 2049.”
“The main advantage is that your shots are for the most part captured in-camera,” Zargarpour says, meaning they don’t need to be altered in a lengthy post-production process.
That’s partly because when actors are surrounded by the virtual sets on the LED screens, their faces, clothing and even the chrome on their motorcycles are bathed in the light from the images on the screens, creating a close match. Unlike green screens, the LED screens also enable actors to see the virtual landscape and react to it in real time.
To create the dramatic, expansive virtual landscapes in “The Mandalorian,” Disney used a relatively poky, 21-foot-tall by 75-foot-wide LED stage from its visual-effects unit, Industrial Light & Magic, that looked like a box with one side open.
Philip Galler, co-founder and chief technology officer ofvirtual production solutions provider and LED supplier Lux Machina, says construction can cost between a few thousand dollars for a small LED screen to millions for a large-scale LED wall built for a feature film.
“The most expensive is the setup,” said Galler, whose LED screens in addition to “The Mandalorian” have powered films like “The Irishman,” “Top Gun 2,” “Rogue One” and “The Rise of Skywalker.”
But rising demand could lower prices for LED studios, Galler said. Currently, there are fewer than a dozen such stages in the world, but Galler anticipates that by July the number will double because of the coronavirus.
Epic Games’ Libreri agrees that interest is soaring during the pandemic. “We can’t give any specific studios’ plans but I can tell you, Miles has been on a lot of conference calls,” Libreri said during an April 13 interview, referring to Miles Perkins, the company’s business development manager.
“Last week was a very, very busy week for me,” Perkins confirmed.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Ex-‘GMA’ folks Joan Lunden and Charlie Gibson set for reunion interview

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Ex- “ Good Morning America @ @ @ @ @ hosting a daily Facebook Live show from home , and we hear that on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ former “ GMA ” co-host Charlie Gibson .
Last week , she welcomed Michael Bolton @ @ @ @ @ kick out of the onetime ABC host FaceTiming guests , then holding her phone for @ @ @ @

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Ex-“Good Morning America” anchor Joan Lunden is hosting a daily Facebook Live show from home, and we hear that on Tuesday, she’ll interview former “GMA” co-host Charlie Gibson.
“It’s a big ol’ longtime-coming reunion,” said a TV insider.
Last week, she welcomed Michael Bolton. Fans are getting a kick out of the onetime ABC host FaceTiming guests, then holding her phone for fans to see.