newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Florida authorities release body cam footage of  Rebekah Jones’ home raid

A Florida data scientist who claimed she was fired by ...

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Florida authorities on Thursday released body camera video from Monday’s controversial home raid of former state data analyst, claiming it shows officers acted with patience and professionalism.
But while the footage does show that officers waited outside for nearly 23 minutes before entering the home of Rebekah Jones, it does not disprove her allegation that they pointed a gun at her family.
In fact, after two officers entered the home, Jones can be heard yelling, “Do not point that gun at my children! He just pointed a gun at my children!” according to the body cam footage.
Jones claims she was fired from the Department of Health for refusing to doctor coronavirus figures.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement released the nearly 30 minutes of footage from the body camera of an officer who remained outside Jones’ home as others executed the search warrant inside, reportedly seizing her computers and phone.
It shows that officers waited outside for nearly 23 minutes before Jones finally opened the door, authorities said.
In the video, officers can be seen periodically knocking on the door, but with no answer. Six minutes after arriving, an officer went around the back of the house and saw Jones going upstairs, authorities said.
At one point, officers went back to a patrol car to obtain a home phone number for Jones. They called the home several times, but nobody picked up, police said.
Jones eventually came outside, with her hands up, after a male officer banged forcefully on her door several times, saying, “Police, search warrant, Open the door.”
Monday’s raid was part of a probe into an alleged hack of the Department of Health’s messaging alert system used for emergencies.
Later Monday, Jones, who had denied hacking the system, released her own clip of the raid on Twitter, showing officers entering her home with their guns drawn, pointing them toward the second floor.
On Twitter, Jones wrote, “They pointed a gun in my face. They pointed guns at my kids,” without providing video evidence to back up her claims.
The footage released by authorities on Thursday did not disprove her allegations, as the footage did not capture what happened inside the home.
Florida Congressman Charlie Crist, a Democrat, condemned the raid in a Tuesday statement.
“Unless we get more information showing otherwise, it looks like an act of retaliation or an attempt to silence Ms. Jones for her critiques of the state’s COVID-19 response,” Crist said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen on Thursday shot back at the criticism.
“This video demonstrates that FDLE agents exercised extreme patience,” Swearingen wrote in a statement.
“I am proud of the way these FDLE agents performed. I can only hope those same individuals who criticized these public safety heroes will now apologize and condemn the actions of Ms. Jones,” he said.
A portion of the video does capture the moment Jones opens her front door after officers waited outside.
On Nov. 10, someone used the state Department of Health’s messaging alert system to send a message stating: “It’s time to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead. You know this is wrong. You don’t have to be a part of this. Be a hero. Speak out before it’s too late,” the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.
About 1,750 of the messages went out before delivery was stopped, according to the search warrant.
Agents suspect someone at Jones’ home “illegally accessed the system,” the police spokeswoman said.
“I have never had access to that system,” she told the newspaper. “I am not a hacker. I do data statistics and analysis.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--New Hampshire House speaker dies of COVID-19 a week after swearing in

The speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives succumbed to the coronavirus — just a week after being sworn in , officials said Thursday .
The state ’ s chief medical examiner ruled that Dick Hinch ’ s death on Wednesday was due to COVID-19 .
He was 71 .
“ We ask that Speaker Hinch ’ s family be given the highest level of privacy and respect as they deal with this unexpected tragedy , ” his office said in a statement on Wednesday .
“ There are no details to share at this time , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Speaker Hinch ’ s wife Pat , and their children in your warm wishes , ” the statement said .
Hinch , a Navy veteran , began his term as leader of the state ’ s newly Republican-led Legislature on Dec. 2 .
The swearing-in ceremony for the 400-member House and 24-member Senate was held outdoors because of the coronavirus pandemic .
More than a quarter of House members , most of them Democrats , skipped the ceremony after learning the day before that several Republican lawmakers — attendees of an indoor GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the virus .
Hinch had been starting his seventh two-year term in the State House .
State Rep. Sherman Packard has been named acting speaker .
He and Senate President Chuck Morse said they were “ committed to protecting the health and safety of our fellow legislators and staff members who work at the statehouse in Concord.
” The state will investigate Hinch ’ s case , including probing “ the date of onset of symptoms , ” and will track down people who may have been exposed , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chris Sununu said that Hinch ’ s death was a “ just a stark reminder , unfortunately , that this virus doesn ’ t care if you ’ re in a long-term care facility , or if you ’ re an elected official.
” “ No one is immune .
It ’ s spreading in our community ; it doesn ’ t affect the elderly , it affects everyone , everywhere , and we have to stay vigilant , ” he said .

The speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives succumbed to the coronavirus — just a week after being sworn in, officials said Thursday.
The state’s chief medical examiner ruled that Dick Hinch’s death on Wednesday was due to COVID-19. He was 71.
“We ask that Speaker Hinch’s family be given the highest level of privacy and respect as they deal with this unexpected tragedy,” his office said in a statement on Wednesday.
“There are no details to share at this time, however, I would ask that you please keep Speaker Hinch’s wife Pat, and their children in your warm wishes,” the statement said.
Hinch, a Navy veteran, began his term as leader of the state’s newly Republican-led Legislature on Dec. 2.
The swearing-in ceremony for the 400-member House and 24-member Senate was held outdoors because of the coronavirus pandemic.
More than a quarter of House members, most of them Democrats, skipped the ceremony after learning the day before that several Republican lawmakers — attendees of an indoor GOP caucus meeting on Nov. 20 — had tested positive for the virus.
Hinch had been starting his seventh two-year term in the State House.
State Rep. Sherman Packard has been named acting speaker. He and Senate President Chuck Morse said they were “committed to protecting the health and safety of our fellow legislators and staff members who work at the statehouse in Concord.”
The state will investigate Hinch’s case, including probing “the date of onset of symptoms,” and will track down people who may have been exposed, said Health Commissioner Lori Shibinette.
Republican Gov. Chris Sununu said that Hinch’s death was a “just a stark reminder, unfortunately, that this virus doesn’t care if you’re in a long-term care facility, or if you’re an elected official.”
“No one is immune. It’s spreading in our community; it doesn’t affect the elderly, it affects everyone, everywhere, and we have to stay vigilant,” he said.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Donald Trump hosts two Hanukkah White House bashes

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) “ I just want to wish everybody a very happy Hanukkah !
And for about three of you here tonight , Merry Christmas , ” President Trump joked at a White House Hanukkah party on Wednesday .
He added of the evening bash , “ this is the one everybody wants tickets to… a lot of friends , I see the faces , a lot of talent here.
” There were two Hanukkah celebrations in the East Room on Wednesday , also attended by Melania Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Page Six — plus Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and lawyer Sidney Powell .
Also spotted among the crowd was former independent presidential candidate and Bitcoin billionaire Brock Pierce , who was “ wearing a mask and a black yarmulke with a blue thunderbolt on it , the logo he uses at his camp at Burning Man , ” a source told us .
Add to that , “ Gucci sneakers featuring red apples signaling New York , where he ’ s spending more time now.
” Other guests were seen wearing red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Build Israel Great Again.
” A source added , “ The White House chef served up a lavish kosher meal , including two kinds of latkes , ” and two bands played .
Some reports slammed the event of about 150 for being indoors , and noted social media images showing Chief of Staff Mark Meadows mask-less .
But an attendee said , “ The Secret Service made sure everyone wore their masks unless eating or drinking… they were very concerned about COVID , and the guest list was cut way back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told his devout followers at the shindig , “ We ’ re going to win this election in a landslide !
”

“I just want to wish everybody a very happy Hanukkah! And for about three of you here tonight, Merry Christmas,” President Trump joked at a White House Hanukkah party on Wednesday. He added of the evening bash, “this is the one everybody wants tickets to… a lot of friends, I see the faces, a lot of talent here.”
There were two Hanukkah celebrations in the East Room on Wednesday, also attended by Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, sources told Page Six — plus Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and lawyer Sidney Powell.
Also spotted among the crowd was former independent presidential candidate and Bitcoin billionaire Brock Pierce, who was “wearing a mask and a black yarmulke with a blue thunderbolt on it, the logo he uses at his camp at Burning Man,” a source told us. Add to that, “Gucci sneakers featuring red apples signaling New York, where he’s spending more time now.”
Other guests were seen wearing red Trump yarmulkes, and hats that read “Build Israel Great Again.”
A source added, “The White House chef served up a lavish kosher meal, including two kinds of latkes,” and two bands played.
Some reports slammed the event of about 150 for being indoors, and noted social media images showing Chief of Staff Mark Meadows mask-less. But an attendee said, “The Secret Service made sure everyone wore their masks unless eating or drinking… they were very concerned about COVID, and the guest list was cut way back from the usual 400-plus.”
Trump also told his devout followers at the shindig, “We’re going to win this election in a landslide!”


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--NY salon owners busted for defrauding $13M from COVID relief program

Federal authorities busted the owners of a chain of New York nail salons Thursday for allegedly defrauding the government of $ 13 million of COVID-19 relief loans and smuggling immigrants to exploit them for lesser wages .
Peter Nguyen , Victoria Ho and Dat Ho , owners of a chain of over 15 nail salons called “ Victoria Nails & Spa ” in Brooklyn , the Bronx and Long Island , filed several applications with two financial institutions beginning in April to obtain the windfall from the U.S. Small Business Administration ’ s Paycheck Protection Program , prosecutors said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in loans approved , and the government deposited $ 7.8 million in their bank accounts between April and June .
When they learned a hold was placed on their accounts , they began searching online for “ ppp fraud ” and “ ppp loan fraud arrests , ” according to prosecutors .
In order to obtain the loans , the owners lied that they had 34 employees and paid them $ 2,320,170 in wages in 2019 , prosecutors allege .
However , investigators found they reported a total payroll of $ 2,320,170 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees , according to a criminal complaint .
“ These defendants conspired to rip off the SBA ’ s COVID-relief small business loan program and financial institutions by lying about how many people they employed in their family business and how much they paid those employees , ” said Audrey Strauss , Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York .
“ They allegedly exploited a program designed to provide vital funding for small businesses that are legitimately struggling in the midst of the pandemic.
” Nguyen , 44 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused of smuggling immigrants from Vietnam into the United State so they could work in their salons and illegally paid them low wages , prosecutors charged in Brooklyn Federal Court Thursday .
Victoria Ho , 31 , Dat Ho and Nguyen have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud .
They face up to 30 years in prison if convicted .

Nailed!
Federal authorities busted the owners of a chain of New York nail salons Thursday for allegedly defrauding the government of $13 million of COVID-19 relief loans and smuggling immigrants to exploit them for lesser wages.
Peter Nguyen, Victoria Ho and Dat Ho, owners of a chain of over 15 nail salons called “Victoria Nails & Spa” in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Long Island, filed several applications with two financial institutions beginning in April to obtain the windfall from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, prosecutors said.
The fraudsters managed to get $13 million in loans approved, and the government deposited $7.8 million in their bank accounts between April and June.
When they learned a hold was placed on their accounts, they began searching online for “ppp fraud” and “ppp loan fraud arrests,” according to prosecutors.
In order to obtain the loans, the owners lied that they had 34 employees and paid them $2,320,170 in wages in 2019, prosecutors allege. However, investigators found they reported a total payroll of $2,320,170 to the state and IRS for four employees, according to a criminal complaint.
“These defendants conspired to rip off the SBA’s COVID-relief small business loan program and financial institutions by lying about how many people they employed in their family business and how much they paid those employees,” said Audrey Strauss, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
“They allegedly exploited a program designed to provide vital funding for small businesses that are legitimately struggling in the midst of the pandemic.”
Nguyen, 44, and Dat Ho, 33, are also accused of smuggling immigrants from Vietnam into the United State so they could work in their salons and illegally paid them low wages, prosecutors charged in Brooklyn Federal Court Thursday.
Victoria Ho, 31, Dat Ho and Nguyen have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. They face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Barbara Windsor dead: Heartbroken husband leads tributes to iconic actress who ‘brought light to our

Barbara Windsor dead: Heartbroken husband leads tributes to iconic actress who ‘brought light to our lives’

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 ) Barbara Windsor ’ s heartbroken husband has led tributes to the star , who has died at the age of 83 .
The iconic actress “ brought brightness to our lives , ” said Scott Mitchell after Dame Barbara passed away on Thursday evening .
Dame Barbara was one of Britain ’ s most beloved stars and was known for her roles in “ EastEnders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” films .
She died at 8:35 p.m. on Thursday at a London care home after battling dementia , her husband Mr. Mitchell said .
“ Myself , her family and friends will remember Barbara with love , a smile and affection for the many years of her love , fun , friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives and the entertainment she gave to so many thousands of others during her career , ” he said .
“ Barbara ’ s final weeks were typical of how she lived her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a fighting spirit until the end .
“ It was not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this very cruel disease deserve .
“ I will always be immensely proud of Barbara ’ s courage , dignity and generosity dealing with her own illness and still trying to help others by raising awareness for as long as she could.
” A representative for actor Steve McFadden , who plays Dame Barbara ’ s on-screen son Phil Mitchell , said he was “ devastated ” by her death .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' ” success and longevity and viewers were for years gripped by the drama surrounding the family .
“ Dame Barbara Windsor .
An entertainment icon in every way , ” he tweeted .
“ A good woman in every way .
Will miss your kindness , your laugh , your spirit , your fabulousness and your bravery .
The true definition of national treasure .
What a loss.
” “ Love Island ” star Amy Hart described meeting Dame Barbara as an “ EastEnders ” “ obsessed ” teenager .
She tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eastenders ’ obsessed 12 year old , Barbara Windsor was having dinner in the same hotel as we were at for a wedding .
“ She was so so kind and had pictures with all of us kids ( and Grandad Harry who still has his photo framed on the wall ) a true legend x ” Comedian David Baddiel paid tribute on Twitter , saying : “ RIP the very lovely , very funny Barbara Windsor .
What a genuine national treasure she was.
” TV presenter Jonathan Ross tweeted : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you might have hoped for .
So warm , so funny , so kind .
Goodnight sweetheart x # BarbaraWindsor ” .
Former newsreader Alistair Stewart said : “ Dame Barbara Windsor was one of those stars about whom you really don ’ t need to write “ best known for… ” .
Blue singer Duncan James paid tribute tweeting : “ So sad to hear about Barbara Windsor passing .
She was truly a British icon and may she rest in peace .
”

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Barbara Windsor’s heartbroken husband has led tributes to the star, who has died at the age of 83.
The iconic actress “brought brightness to our lives,” said Scott Mitchell after Dame Barbara passed away on Thursday evening.
Dame Barbara was one of Britain’s most beloved stars and was known for her roles in “EastEnders” and the iconic “Carry On” films.
She died at 8:35 p.m. on Thursday at a London care home after battling dementia, her husband Mr. Mitchell said.
“Myself, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives and the entertainment she gave to so many thousands of others during her career,” he said.
“Barbara’s final weeks were typical of how she lived her life. Full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end.
“It was not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this very cruel disease deserve.
“I will always be immensely proud of Barbara’s courage, dignity and generosity dealing with her own illness and still trying to help others by raising awareness for as long as she could.”
A representative for actor Steve McFadden, who plays Dame Barbara’s on-screen son Phil Mitchell, said he was “devastated” by her death.
The Mitchells have been crucial to “EastEnders'” success and longevity and viewers were for years gripped by the drama surrounding the family.
TalkRadio host and Sun columnist Dan Wooten also paid tribute.
“Dame Barbara Windsor. An entertainment icon in every way,” he tweeted.
“A good woman in every way. Will miss your kindness, your laugh, your spirit, your fabulousness and your bravery. The true definition of national treasure. What a loss.”
“Love Island” star Amy Hart described meeting Dame Barbara as an “EastEnders” “obsessed” teenager.
She tweeted: “When I was an ‘Eastenders’ obsessed 12 year old, Barbara Windsor was having dinner in the same hotel as we were at for a wedding.
“She was so so kind and had pictures with all of us kids (and Grandad Harry who still has his photo framed on the wall) a true legend x”
Comedian David Baddiel paid tribute on Twitter, saying: “RIP the very lovely, very funny Barbara Windsor. What a genuine national treasure she was.”
TV presenter Jonathan Ross tweeted: “Barbara Windsor in real life was everything you might have hoped for. So warm, so funny, so kind. Goodnight sweetheart x #BarbaraWindsor”.
Former newsreader Alistair Stewart said: “Dame Barbara Windsor was one of those stars about whom you really don’t need to write “best known for…”.
Blue singer Duncan James paid tribute tweeting: “So sad to hear about Barbara Windsor passing. She was truly a British icon and may she rest in peace.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Disgraced Jerry Falwell Jr. drops defamation lawsuit against Liberty University

Jerry Falwell Jr. has dropped a lawsuit against his former employer Liberty University that alleged the Christian school defamed him after he resigned as president amid a salacious sex scandal .
A judge in Lynchburg , Virginia this week granted a motion from Falwell ’ s attorneys seeking to dismiss his claim , at least for now , The News & Advance reported Thursday .
“ I ’ ve decided to take a time out from my litigation against Liberty University , but I will continue to keep all options on the table for an appropriate resolution to the matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the newspaper .
Court documents didn ’ t indicate why the disgraced evangelical leader decided to drop the complaint he filed in late October .
The judge ’ s ruling left the door open for him to refile a similar suit later .
In a statement , Liberty said that Falwell ’ s decision “ was not prompted by any payments , promises , or other consideration ” from the university .
“ The University ’ s administration and Board of Trustees are pleased that Falwell has dropped his lawsuit and look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Liberty ’ s President and Chancellor Search Committee to find the new leadership to succeed Falwell , ” the statement said .
In August , Falwell , 58 , left the famously ultra-conservative school started by his father , televangelist and modern religious-right co-founder Jerry Falwell Sr. His resignation came after former Miami pool boy Giancarlo Granda revealed he had a yearslong affair with Falwell ’ s wife Becki , and that Falwell participated by watching them have sex .
Jerry Falwell admitted that his wife had a brief affair Granda around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t involved .
He said the couple became the victims of repeated extortion attempts by Granda , something the pool boy has denied .
In his complaint , Falwell claimed that Liberty officials accepted Granda ’ s “ baseless accusations ” too easily and “ moved quickly ” to destroy his reputation .
“ When Mr. Falwell and his family became the targets of a malicious smear campaign incited by anti-evangelical forces , Liberty University not only accepted the salacious and baseless accusations against the Falwells at face value , but directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit claimed .
Falwell had already been on leave from the job when the scandal broke — after a photo surfaced of him with his arm around a young pregnant woman while his pants were open .
He has said the photo was a joke .
Shortly after Falwell left , Liberty ’ s board of trustees announced an independent investigation into the tenure of its former president that would look into financial , real estate and legal matters .

Jerry Falwell Jr. has dropped a lawsuit against his former employer Liberty University that alleged the Christian school defamed him after he resigned as president amid a salacious sex scandal.
A judge in Lynchburg, Virginia this week granted a motion from Falwell’s attorneys seeking to dismiss his claim, at least for now, The News & Advance reported Thursday.
“I’ve decided to take a time out from my litigation against Liberty University, but I will continue to keep all options on the table for an appropriate resolution to the matter,” Falwell said in a statement to the newspaper.
Court documents didn’t indicate why the disgraced evangelical leader decided to drop the complaint he filed in late October.
The judge’s ruling left the door open for him to refile a similar suit later.
In a statement, Liberty said that Falwell’s decision “was not prompted by any payments, promises, or other consideration” from the university.
“The University’s administration and Board of Trustees are pleased that Falwell has dropped his lawsuit and look forward to pressing onward with the work of Liberty’s President and Chancellor Search Committee to find the new leadership to succeed Falwell,” the statement said.
In August, Falwell, 58, left the famously ultra-conservative school started by his father, televangelist and modern religious-right co-founder Jerry Falwell Sr.
His resignation came after former Miami pool boy Giancarlo Granda revealed he had a yearslong affair with Falwell’s wife Becki, and that Falwell participated by watching them have sex.
Jerry Falwell admitted that his wife had a brief affair Granda around 2012, and said that he wasn’t involved. He said the couple became the victims of repeated extortion attempts by Granda, something the pool boy has denied.
In his complaint, Falwell claimed that Liberty officials accepted Granda’s “baseless accusations” too easily and “moved quickly” to destroy his reputation.
“When Mr. Falwell and his family became the targets of a malicious smear campaign incited by anti-evangelical forces, Liberty University not only accepted the salacious and baseless accusations against the Falwells at face value, but directly participated in the defamation,” the suit claimed.
Falwell had already been on leave from the job when the scandal broke — after a photo surfaced of him with his arm around a young pregnant woman while his pants were open. He has said the photo was a joke.
Shortly after Falwell left, Liberty’s board of trustees announced an independent investigation into the tenure of its former president that would look into financial, real estate and legal matters.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Bernie Madoff victims to get another $488 million payout, DOJ says

Bernie Madoff victims will get another $ 488 million in recovered funds , the Department of Justice announced Thursday .
The cash will go to nearly 37,000 victims across the globe , according to a release from the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office in the Southern District of New York .
It is the sixth Madoff Victim Fund payout , bringing the total amount distributed to almost $ 3.2 billion , the statement said .
The notorious scammer ’ s victims have now recouped 80.05 percent of their total losses , officials said .
“ This is an extraordinary level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but our work is not yet finished , and the office ’ s tireless commitment to compensating the victims who suffered as a result of Madoff ’ s heinous crimes continues , ” said Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss in a statement .
It has been more than 11 years since Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 felonies , admitting to turning his wealth management business into a massive $ 65 billion fraud that ripped off friends and family .
He was sentenced to 150 years in prison for running the largest Ponzi scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal judge denied his motion for compassionate release .
His lawyers said he has advanced kidney disease and only 18 months to live .

Bernie Madoff victims will get another $488 million in recovered funds, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
The cash will go to nearly 37,000 victims across the globe, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York.
It is the sixth Madoff Victim Fund payout, bringing the total amount distributed to almost $3.2 billion, the statement said.
The notorious scammer’s victims have now recouped 80.05 percent of their total losses, officials said.
“This is an extraordinary level of recovery for a Ponzi scheme — but our work is not yet finished, and the office’s tireless commitment to compensating the victims who suffered as a result of Madoff’s heinous crimes continues,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss in a statement.
It has been more than 11 years since Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 felonies, admitting to turning his wealth management business into a massive $65 billion fraud that ripped off friends and family.
He was sentenced to 150 years in prison for running the largest Ponzi scheme in history.
Last summer, a federal judge denied his motion for compassionate release. His lawyers said he has advanced kidney disease and only 18 months to live.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Disney+ Will Increase to $7.99 Per Month in March 2021

One year after its launch , Disney+ is finally raising its prices .
During Disney ’ s Q4 2020 earnings call on Thursday , Chief Financial Officer Christine M. McCarthy revealed that Disney+ will increase to $ 7.99/month on March 26 , 2021 , an increase of $ 1 per month for subscribers .
McCarthy noted that the price increase is reflective of the platform ’ s forthcoming content lineup , which includes big-budget The Mandalorian spinoffs , new Star Wars series , and a slew of Marvel TV shows and movies .
In Europe , the price of Disney+ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even with its $ 1 price increase , Disney+ is one of the lowest-priced streaming services .
Netflix ’ s Basic Plan , which allows users to stream on one screen in Standard Definition , is currently priced at $ 8.99/month , while the platform ’ s Standard and Premium plans run users $ 13.99/month and $ 17.99/month , respectively .
Elsewhere in the streaming landscape , HBO Max , WarnerMedia ’ s new standalone and cable-connected streaming service , costs $ 14.99/month , while Hulu ( also owned by Disney ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan or $ 11.99/month for ad-free streaming .
In addition to announcing the Disney+ price increase , McCarthy revealed that the service ’ s subscriber goals have changed drastically due to the platform ’ s staggering year-one success .
While Disney+ originally aimed to have between 60 and 90 million subscribers by FY2024 , the streamer nearly hit that mark in its first year , and it now boasts 86.8 million subscribers ( as of December 2 ) .
Now , said McCarthy , Disney+ has revised that goal and hopes to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subscribers by 2024 , a figure that is partially attributed to the success of international service Star .
If Disney ’ s presentation is any indication , Disney+ subscribers will certainly get their money ’ s worth in the months ahead .
Over “ the next few years , ” said the company , Disney plans to release 10 Star Wars series , 10 Marvel series , 15 Pixar and Disney shows , and 15 Pixar and Disney movies .
Plus , Disney films will continue to arrive on the platform shortly after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stream of Disney+ content for many years to come .

One year after its launch, Disney+ is finally raising its prices. During Disney’s Q4 2020 earnings call on Thursday, Chief Financial Officer Christine M. McCarthy revealed that Disney+ will increase to $7.99/month on March 26, 2021, an increase of $1 per month for subscribers. McCarthy noted that the price increase is reflective of the platform’s forthcoming content lineup, which includes big-budget The Mandalorian spinoffs, new Star Wars series, and a slew of Marvel TV shows and movies.
In Europe, the price of Disney+ will increase by two Euros to €8.99/month.
Even with its $1 price increase, Disney+ is one of the lowest-priced streaming services. Netflix’s Basic Plan, which allows users to stream on one screen in Standard Definition, is currently priced at $8.99/month, while the platform’s Standard and Premium plans run users $13.99/month and $17.99/month, respectively. Elsewhere in the streaming landscape, HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s new standalone and cable-connected streaming service, costs $14.99/month, while Hulu (also owned by Disney) subscribers pay $5.99/month for an ad-supported plan or $11.99/month for ad-free streaming.
In addition to announcing the Disney+ price increase, McCarthy revealed that the service’s subscriber goals have changed drastically due to the platform’s staggering year-one success. While Disney+ originally aimed to have between 60 and 90 million subscribers by FY2024, the streamer nearly hit that mark in its first year, and it now boasts 86.8 million subscribers (as of December 2). Now, said McCarthy, Disney+ has revised that goal and hopes to have between 230 and 260 million global paying subscribers by 2024, a figure that is partially attributed to the success of international service Star.
If Disney’s presentation is any indication, Disney+ subscribers will certainly get their money’s worth in the months ahead. Over “the next few years,” said the company, Disney plans to release 10 Star Wars series, 10 Marvel series, 15 Pixar and Disney shows, and 15 Pixar and Disney movies. Plus, Disney films will continue to arrive on the platform shortly after their theatrical releases, ensuring a constant stream of Disney+ content for many years to come.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Pressure will start to mount on Jets’ foes: Don’t be that team

Maybe it could net him another ring .
If joining the ...

The pressure builds each week when the Jets, the 0-12 Jets, are on your schedule.
Ask the Packers about the pressure they felt to avoid defeat at the hands of the 0-15 Lions in 2008.
Ask the Steelers about the pressure they felt to avoid defeat at the hands of the 0-15 Browns in 2017.
The Seahawks will feel it on Sunday in Seattle, then the Rams are a good bet to feel it, then the Browns, and then Bill Belichick and the Patriots will be a good bet to feel it if the Jets show up 0-15 for the regular-season finale at Foxborough.
As desperate as the Jets will be to win a damn game, they will be met with desperation from opponents who dread what losing to them would mean for their own legacy.
“To be honest, it was a lot,” former Packers receiver Greg Jennings told The Post, and laughed. He is a Fox Sports NFL analyst these days.
“We didn’t want to be that team that gave them that win, or the team that they can say, ‘Oh, we beat the Packers.’ ”
It didn’t matter to the Packers, didn’t matter to Mike McCarthy, didn’t matter to Aaron Rodgers, that they themselves were 5-10 going into that 2008 season finale.
Adam Gase and Russell Wilson Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post, AP
Rodgers hit Donald Driver with a 71-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter to outduel Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who found Calvin Johnson with two TD passes, for a 31-21 Green Bay win at Lambeau Field.
“You don’t want to be the team that allows a team who is winless to get it on you,” Jennings said. “And so every week that they play right now, every opponent, these teams are looking like, ‘Guys we can’t let ’em get it this week, we can’t let ’em get it this week.’
“So they’re going to be getting everyone’s — it sounds crazy — but they’re going to be getting everyone’s best to a degree because they don’t want to be that team that gives them that win.”
Rodgers already had thrown three TD passes in a 48-25 Week 2 rout of the Lions.
“This is one thing I’ve learned over the course of my football career and now in the media — good teams know how to win, they find a way to win,” Jennings said. “Bad teams, they find ways to lose. If you find yourself in a dogfight, it’s like, ‘OK, can we out-execute for the duration? Because somewhere along this race, you know that they’re gonna falter. That’s just what they do.”
Cover Zero (cough cough).
“Knowing Calvin, I knew it was painful for him to go through that, to deal with that,” Jennings said. “We weren’t the best team that year, either, but we knew we were better than the Lions. We were on the sideline just saying, ‘Just stick with it, stick with it, stick with it, don’t let up, don’t let up, don’t let up.’ ”
Even during and after the great escape, Jennings felt somewhat conflicted.
“I’m from Michigan, so I grew up cheering for the Lions, specifically Barry Sanders,” Jennings said. “I remember being on our sideline during that game saying, ‘Man, I hate that they’re about to go 0-16. They can’t get that one win today.’ ”
It was a set of circumstances for the 2017 Steelers. They already had clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs, and Mike Tomlin decided to rest a bunch of starters, including Ben Roethlisberger and Le’Veon Bell. Antonio Brown (calf) did not play. And Landry Jones threw for 239 yards against the Browns defense of Gregg Williams (cough cough).
“We were kinda upset on the defensive side, because Coach revealed on Wednesday who was not playing,” cornerback William Gay told The Post. “Everybody on the offensive side didn’t play, so it’s like, dang, we’re getting stuck out here, it’s about to be 11 degrees, it was cold as heck, and we were just like, ‘Man, we’re playing the Browns.’ We didn’t have nothing to lose other than you don’t want to be the team they get their first win on.”
For those who played, it turned out to be quite a motivation.
The Browns were on the Steelers’ 27 with 1:54 left when Corey Coleman dropped a fourth-and-2 pass from DeShone Kizer at the 11 at the end of Steelers 28, Browns 24 in front of restless fans at Heinz Field.
“They saw a close game with the Cleveland Browns that were 0-15, so they were booing, and we deserved it,” Gay said.
Gay’s advice to the Seahawks: “That it’s an NFL game. You can lose on any Sunday, any Monday … nowadays they’re playing on Tuesday, Wednesday. Mike Tomlin always used to tell us, ‘Respect the game.’ And if you don’t respect the game, it will show you, and it almost did with us in 2017. So I would tell the Seahawks to respect the game, respect the NFL, and just go out there and do your job and play your game. It’s a little easier on the Seahawks right now because they’re fighting to win their division, stay in the hunt, so they’re not going out there thinking, ‘We have nothing to play for,’ because at that time in 2017, we were locked in at the No. 2 spot.
“So we went out there and we played, and then it ended up being a game, so we had to dial in and say, ‘All right, man, we can’t be the laughingstock of the league going into the playoffs,’ ” Gay said.
“The Seahawks got a different mindset, but you definitely don’t want to be the team that gives the first win to somebody.”
Jennings’ advice to the Jets: “It would be go out there and play to win. Play relentless, play with a reckless abandon. You literally have nothing to lose. If you get the penalty, get the penalty, but challenge the ref to throw the flag, challenge that defender to do above and beyond what they feel like they should be doing, or whatever the case may be … play with a reckless abandon and a pride about just who you are and what you’re about.
“And if I’m Seattle, you gotta defend against that. You gotta be who you are.”
And if you don’t showcase your Super Bowl-contender pedigree, self-doubt will dress among you.
“Losing, period, to a team like the Jets at this stage … you just lost to the Giants, now you turn around and potentially you lose to the Jets?” Jennings said. “Like who are you? Are you fool’s gold?”
Don’t be that team.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Upcoming Marvel TV Show And Movie Full Schedule: ‘Fantastic Four,’ ‘Black Panther 2’ And More

Disney is planning to launch some of its Marvel content in the coming months after teasing new series and films for the past year .
During an Investor Day event today , the company revealed some exciting release dates for its most highly anticipated series , including Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision , and shared new projects on the horizon that we can look forward to in the years to come .
Disney dropped trailers for Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision , sharing new footage of the superhero shows for fans ahead of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to premiere first on Disney+ , kicking off the Marvel lineup on Jan. 15 , and after being pushed from its August 2020 release date , Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan ’ s Falcon and the Winter Soldier will now premiere on March 19 .
During today ’ s event , we also got some insight into release dates for series like Loki , starring Tom Hiddleston in the titular role , which is expected to premiere on Disney+ in May 2021 .
Ahead of next year ’ s Loki release , Marvel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series .
Later this year , we can also expect to see the Marvel animated anthology series What If… ?
premiere some time this summer , while Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will premiere in theaters on a more definitive date , July 9 , 2021 .
Other anticipated releases include Ms. Marvel later this year on Disney+ , and other series like Hailee Steinfeld and Jeremy Renner ’ s Hawkeye , along with She-Hulk , Moon Knight , and more still undetermined .
Marvel also announced a handful of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ironheart , and Armor Wars , plus a Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special , and I Am Groot .
Release dates have not yet been set for the new Marvel series , but the Guardians of the Galaxy special is expected sometime in 2022 .
As for movie releases , Marvel is working on plenty of exciting upcoming releases .
We can look forward to Thor : Love and Thunder with Christian Bale as the villain Gorr on May 6 , 2022 , Blade with Mahershala Ali , the third Ant Man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Michael Douglas , a new Fantastic Four movie , and Black Panther 2 .
Marvel will not recast the character of T ’ Challa after Chadwick Boseman ’ s death in August , they confirmed today .
Instead , they plan to “ explore the world of Wakanda & the rich characters introduced in the first film.
” Black Widow , which was previously set to premiere in theaters this year , is sticking with its May 7 , 2021 theatrical release and will not premiere on Disney+ .
Check out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : WandaVision – Disney+ – January 15 Falcon and Winter Soldier – Disney+ – March 19 Black Widow – May 7 , 2021 Loki – Disney+ – May , 2021 What If… ?
– Disney+ – Summer 2021 Shang-Chi And The Legend of the Ten Rings – July 9 , 2021 The Eternals – November 5 , 2021 Ms. Marvel – Disney+ – Late 2021 Hawkeye – Disney+ – Late 2021 Spider-Man 3 – December 17 , 2021 Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness – March 25 , 2022 Thor : Love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Panther 2 – July 8 , 2022 Captain Marvel 2 – November 11 , 2022 Guardians of the Galaxy , Vol .
3 – 2022 The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special – Disney+ – 2022 She-Hulk – Disney+ – 2022 Moon Knight – Disney+ – 2022 Secret Invasion – Disney+ – ( TBA ) Ironheart – Disney+ – ( TBA ) Armor Wars – Disney+ – ( TBA ) I Am Groot – Disney+ – ( TBA ) Ant-Man and the Wasp : Quantumania ( TBA ) Fantastic Four ( TBA @ @ @ @ @

Disney is planning to launch some of its Marvel content in the coming months after teasing new series and films for the past year. During an Investor Day event today, the company revealed some exciting release dates for its most highly anticipated series, including Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision, and shared new projects on the horizon that we can look forward to in the years to come.
Disney dropped trailers for Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision, sharing new footage of the superhero shows for fans ahead of their releases this year. WandaVision is set to premiere first on Disney+, kicking off the Marvel lineup on Jan. 15, and after being pushed from its August 2020 release date, Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier will now premiere on March 19.
During today’s event, we also got some insight into release dates for series like Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston in the titular role, which is expected to premiere on Disney+ in May 2021. Ahead of next year’s Loki release, Marvel shared some first look footage of the series.
Later this year, we can also expect to see the Marvel animated anthology series What If…? premiere some time this summer, while Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will premiere in theaters on a more definitive date, July 9, 2021.
Other anticipated releases include Ms. Marvel later this year on Disney+, and other series like Hailee Steinfeld and Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, along with She-Hulk, Moon Knight, and more still undetermined.
Marvel also announced a handful of new projects, including Secret Invasion, Ironheart, and Armor Wars, plus a Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special, and I Am Groot. Release dates have not yet been set for the new Marvel series, but the Guardians of the Galaxy special is expected sometime in 2022.
As for movie releases, Marvel is working on plenty of exciting upcoming releases. We can look forward to Thor: Love and Thunder with Christian Bale as the villain Gorr on May 6, 2022, Blade with Mahershala Ali, the third Ant Man film featuring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly and Michael Douglas, a new Fantastic Four movie, and Black Panther 2. Marvel will not recast the character of T’Challa after Chadwick Boseman’s death in August, they confirmed today. Instead, they plan to “explore the world of Wakanda & the rich characters introduced in the first film.” Black Widow, which was previously set to premiere in theaters this year, is sticking with its May 7, 2021 theatrical release and will not premiere on Disney+.
Check out the full lineup of Marvel projects coming up:
WandaVision – Disney+ – January 15
Falcon and Winter Soldier – Disney+ – March 19
Black Widow – May 7, 2021
Loki – Disney+ – May, 2021
What If…? – Disney+ – Summer 2021
Shang-Chi And The Legend of the Ten Rings – July 9, 2021
The Eternals – November 5, 2021
Ms. Marvel – Disney+ – Late 2021
Hawkeye – Disney+ – Late 2021
Spider-Man 3 – December 17, 2021
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness – March 25, 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder – May 6, 2022
Black Panther 2 – July 8, 2022
Captain Marvel 2 – November 11, 2022
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 – 2022
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special – Disney+ – 2022
She-Hulk – Disney+ – 2022
Moon Knight – Disney+ – 2022
Secret Invasion – Disney+ – (TBA)
Ironheart – Disney+ – (TBA)
Armor Wars – Disney+ – (TBA)
I Am Groot – Disney+ – (TBA)
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (TBA)
Fantastic Four (TBA)
Blade (TBA)


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Former de Blasio aide Kathryn Garcia makes her case for NYC mayor

Staten Island ’ s soon-to-depart congressman , Max Rose , is already eyeing his second ...

Kathryn Garcia said she’s the best prepared candidate to run all of New York City government as the next mayor, because, well, she’s already managed half of it.
During her campaign kick-off Thursday, Garcia rattled off her roles managing an array of city services.
She was responsible for trash removal as Sanitation Commissioner.
She protected tap water while helping run the Department of Environmental Protection.
She served as trouble shooter for lead paint removal at NYCHA. And she oversaw food delivery during the initial COVID-19 outbreak.
“I’ve been the go-to crisis manager,” she said.
“There is an enormous amount of interest in politics right now and a real hunger for solutions to New York City’s problems,” Garcia said in a Post interview.
When asked to contrast herself with the rest of the field, she said, “The critical difference is I have the leadership skills and the management skills to run the city. I actually know how to make public service serve the public.”
“I clearly have proven I know how to put together the teams that can deliver,” she later added.
Garcia said her managerial skills are essential as the city strives to recover from the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 24,000 residents over the last nine months and has ravaged key sectors of the city’s economy.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia in 2018. Paul Martinka
She is one of three ex-de Blasio aides running to succeed him. Also in the running are former City Hall chief legal counsel Maya Wiley and Veteran Affairs Director Loree Sutton.
The huge field of candidates also includes city Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and former Citigroup executive Ray McGuire, among others.
On Thursday night, Staten Island’s lame duck congressman, Max Rose, filed paperwork with the city’s Campaign Finance Board to begin raising money for a potential 2021 mayoral bid.
Garcia took a shot at her former boss, Mayor Bill de Blasio, during Thursday’s campaign launch.
“NYCHA doesn’t need another plan — residents have seen plan after plan — including 3 plans under the de Blasio administration,” she said.
She said NYCHA apartment buildings can be fixed by installing new boilers, hiring more plumbers, fixing broken elevators, and eliminating mold.
Garcia, while portraying herself as Ms. Fix It, has sketched out policy platforms on her campaign website that largely steer clear of touching on controversial or polarizing issues.
Her education plan, for example, makes no mention of charter schools popular with parents but also anathema to the teachers’ union.
Garcia said she would require newly hired cops to reside in the city to improve police-community relations — though a state law allows them to live in suburban counties.
She also promised to provide free child care for parents with incomes under $70,000 who have kids under the age of 3, though she did not specify how to pay for the service.
Meanwhile she wants to turn Rikers Island into a composting and energy renewal facility after the jails are closed there.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Over 5,000 New Yorkers now hospitalized for COVID-19 — most since May

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
ALBANY — Over 5,000 New Yorkers are now hospitalized for COVID-19 — the most since May — as the pandemic rages in a second wave resurgence , according to new data released by the state Department of Health Thursday night .
State health officials said 5,164 individuals are presently hospitalized statewide , an increase of 171 patients since midnight Wednesday .
A total of 994 were in intensive care units for coronavirus treatment as of Thursday night , 42 more than were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City ’ s 2,351 ICU beds are nearly 80 percent occupied with patients of all kinds , the DOH said .
Meanwhile , the state ’ s coronavirus fatality rate has shot up since midnight Wednesday ; since then , 92 patients lost their battle with the deadly bug as of Thursday night .
By comparison , 74 people died from COVID-19 on Monday .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has targeted hospital capacity as the state ’ s chief focus as cases increase and the largest source of virus spread is tied to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to state contact tracing data .
The DOH has set strict perimeters for the state ’ s public and private hospital systems , lest individual facilities become overwhelmed in an attempt to avoid crowded ICUs and overburdened systems — as was seen during the pandemic ’ s first wave last spring .
“ As we continue to see the number COVID-19 cases surge across the nation , it is beyond critical that we ensure hospitals , and hospital systems as a whole , have developed additional capacity and are prepared to work cooperatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility from becoming overwhelmed , ” Cuomo said in a statement Thursday .
“ With this work already underway through the state ’ s Surge and Flex program , we also continue to fight to ensure the vaccine ’ s distribution is as fair and equitable as possible.
” Over 18,000 New Yorkers were hospitalized for the virus in April , with nurses and doctors enduring nightmarish conditions and personal protective equipment shortages .
Cuomo has begun halting elective surgeries in upstate ’ s Erie County , and has said additional restrictions like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York City could occur again if hospitalizations continue to rise .
Meanwhile , the statewide positivity rate rests at 5.15 percent , slightly down from Wednesday ’ s daily rate of 5.45 percent .
Overall , 27,498 lives have been lost to confirmed COVID-19 cases since March .
Johns Hopkins University has tracked 33,183 confirmed and presumed coronavirus deaths , as New York City tracks both categories , but the state does not .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
ALBANY — Over 5,000 New Yorkers are now hospitalized for COVID-19 — the most since May — as the pandemic rages in a second wave resurgence, according to new data released by the state Department of Health Thursday night.
State health officials said 5,164 individuals are presently hospitalized statewide, an increase of 171 patients since midnight Wednesday.
A total of 994 were in intensive care units for coronavirus treatment as of Thursday night, 42 more than were in ICUs at midnight Wednesday.
New York City’s 2,351 ICU beds are nearly 80 percent occupied with patients of all kinds, the DOH said.
Meanwhile, the state’s coronavirus fatality rate has shot up since midnight Wednesday; since then, 92 patients lost their battle with the deadly bug as of Thursday night.
By comparison, 74 people died from COVID-19 on Monday.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has targeted hospital capacity as the state’s chief focus as cases increase and the largest source of virus spread is tied to indoor gatherings — over 70 percent according to state contact tracing data.
The DOH has set strict perimeters for the state’s public and private hospital systems, lest individual facilities become overwhelmed in an attempt to avoid crowded ICUs and overburdened systems — as was seen during the pandemic’s first wave last spring.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo Matthew McDermott
“As we continue to see the number COVID-19 cases surge across the nation, it is beyond critical that we ensure hospitals, and hospital systems as a whole, have developed additional capacity and are prepared to work cooperatively with each other to prevent any one facility from becoming overwhelmed,” Cuomo said in a statement Thursday.
“With this work already underway through the state’s Surge and Flex program, we also continue to fight to ensure the vaccine’s distribution is as fair and equitable as possible.”
Over 18,000 New Yorkers were hospitalized for the virus in April, with nurses and doctors enduring nightmarish conditions and personal protective equipment shortages.
Cuomo has begun halting elective surgeries in upstate’s Erie County, and has said additional restrictions like a shutdown of indoor dining in New York City could occur again if hospitalizations continue to rise.
Meanwhile, the statewide positivity rate rests at 5.15 percent, slightly down from Wednesday’s daily rate of 5.45 percent.
Overall, 27,498 lives have been lost to confirmed COVID-19 cases since March.
Johns Hopkins University has tracked 33,183 confirmed and presumed coronavirus deaths, as New York City tracks both categories, but the state does not.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Army-Navy game offers a constant in year of turmoil

Every now and again , we need to watch the Army-Navy ...

HIGHLAND FALLS, N.Y. — Days like Thursday force you to remember something Bob Sutton said once, years ago, when he was the head coach of the Army football team.
“It’s sunny, but it’s cold,” he said one day, his eyes softening. “You’re at Thayer Gate. The Thayer Hotel is to your immediate right, the Hudson River just beyond there. The Buffalo Soldier Field is straight ahead of you. You know Michie Stadium is just beyond that. Let me tell you something: You never feel more alive than you do right there.”
It is sunny this day. It is cold. It is supposed to be a little less sunny and a little less cold on Saturday when, for the first time since 1943, Army will host Navy in a football game at West Point, just on the other side of Thayer Gate. This is always one of the essential sporting events of a calendar year, a reminder that not all great competitions end in championships, or in confetti blasts, or in champagne showers.
Every December, the Cadets and the Midshipmen do battle — as was once said of Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali — for the “championship of each other.” Usually these games are played in Philadelphia, neutral ground for both academies, where tens of thousands of alumni and fans and family members and ex-players and aficionados of this purest brand of sport gather to tailgate and to cheer and to roar and to exchange these sacred oaths:
“Go Army, BEAT NAVY!”
“Go Navy, BEAT ARMY!”
It is eternally corny and abundantly naïve and relentlessly sentimental, straight out of an old Frank Merriwell or Chip Hilton book. But it is also the most real sporting event of every year. The passion is real. The energy is real. The sweat and blood and tears — always tears, win or lose — that flow are as real as the law allows.
“You are only given so many opportunities when you’re here to define what it means to serve our country,” says Army linebacker Amadeo West, a senior (or “Firstie,” in West Point parlance) from Oceanside, Calif. “This is one of those. This is something bigger than yourself. It’s a tremendous opportunity to remind ourselves we’re serving to protect millions of Americans and the Constitution of the United States.”
The site of this game is, in its own way, perfect. Philadelphia wasn’t likely to allow the entire Corps of Cadets and the whole of the Brigade of Midshipmen to invade Lincoln Financial Field — and that was before the second wave of COVID-19 rid that building of the handful of fans that had been allowed there earlier in the year to attend Eagles games.
So the schools adjusted. That has been a constant at West Point going back to the summer, when it became clear that Army’s original 12-game schedule was going to have to be completely revamped. Only three of those original dozen opponents remained once athletic director Mike Buddie and senior associate AD Bob Beretta were done with the task of finding replacement opponents. The virus knocked out two high-profile home games — BYU in September, Air Force in November.
What remained was an 11-game slate and, to date, a 7-2 record that has left Army coach Jeff Monken and his players feeling more grateful and satisfied than most undefeated seasons would have made them. Army reached as high as No. 22 in the polls for a couple of weeks, too. In many ways, that is one of the true triumphs of this ransacked college football season.
AP Photo
“Allowing our players to have a season … it has just been incredible,” Monken says. “That this school and this team was able to take the field and show the nation our army is not going to stop, no matter the challenges. They allowed us to represent the Army, and not just as football players, but on behalf of the over 1 million men and women who serve.”
It hasn’t been easy, by any measure. Army has used six different quarterbacks because of injuries. While the team remained free of the virus for months, even the West Point post hasn’t proven immune. Some players have been quarantined. Losing the Air Force game was disappointing (though it will now be played — hopefully — on Dec. 19 at Michie).
Yet there was a wonderful video that emerged after the Cadets’ most recent game, a thrilling 28-27 home win over Georgia Southern, Monken exhorting his masked players postgame with a chill-inducing chant, inspired by an old Scottish ballad, about a sailor named Sir Andrew Barton, which has informed and inspired Army football teams for generations:
Fight on, my men.
I am hurt, but I am not slain;
I’ll lay me down and bleed awhile.
And then I’ll rise and fight again …
Army and Navy will rise again Saturday, 3 o’clock, Michie Stadium. Someone will score more points. As ever, both sides will be winners.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Harrison Ford to reprise ‘Indiana Jones’ role for fifth and final movie

Harrison Ford is donning his hat and whip once again , reprising his role as Indiana Jones for the fifth and final movie directed by James Mangold .
The latest installment , slated for July 2022 , was announced during Disney Investor Day on Thursday , along with a slew of other goods coming to Disney+ including Marvel and “ Star Wars ” projects .
“ Lucasfilm is in pre-production on the next installment of Indiana Jones .
At the helm is James @ Mang0ld , director of ‘ Ford v Ferrari , ’ and Indy himself , Harrison Ford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iconic character ’ s journey .
Adventure arrives July 2022 , ” Disney tweeted .
The “ Indiana Jones ” film will go into production this spring , Deadline reported , although Chris Pratt — who has been rumored to be attached to an “ Indiana Jones ” project — has not been mentioned .
Ford , 78 , first starred in “ Raiders of the Lost Ark ” in 1981 , followed by “ Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom ” ( 1984 ) , “ Indiana Jones and the Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it off with “ Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ” in 2008 .
“ Indiana Jones ” producer Frank Marshall recently told Den of Geek that he had no intention on recasting the iconic lead Ford catapulted into fame in the 80s .
“ We are working on the script , ” Marshall said .
“ There will only be one Indiana Jones , and that ’ s Harrison Ford.
” Disney Investor Day was packed with news including “ roughly ” 10 Marvel series , 10 “ Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animation and Pixar series over the next few years .
One project has Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Darth Vader in Disney+ series “ Obi-Wan.
” Patty Jenkins is also directing “ Rogue Squadron , ” marking the first time a woman will direct a “ Star Wars ” film .

Harrison Ford is donning his hat and whip once again, reprising his role as Indiana Jones for the fifth and final movie directed by James Mangold.
The latest installment, slated for July 2022, was announced during Disney Investor Day on Thursday, along with a slew of other goods coming to Disney+ including Marvel and Star Wars projects.
“Lucasfilm is in pre-production on the next installment of Indiana Jones. At the helm is James @Mang0ld, director of ‘Ford v Ferrari,’ and Indy himself, Harrison Ford, will be back to continue his iconic character’s journey. Adventure arrives July 2022,” Disney tweeted.
The Indiana Jones film will go into production this spring, Deadline reported, although Chris Pratt — who has been rumored to be attached to an Indiana Jones project — has not been mentioned.
Ford, 78, first starred in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 1981, followed by “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984), “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989) and capping it off with “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” in 2008.
Indiana Jones producer Frank Marshall recently told Den of Geek that he had no intention on recasting the iconic role that catapulted Ford to fame in the ’80s.
“We are working on the script,” Marshall said. “There will only be one Indiana Jones, and that’s Harrison Ford.”
Disney Investor Day was packed with news including “roughly” 10 Marvel series, 10 Star Wars series and 15 live-action, animation and Pixar series over the next few years. One project has Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Darth Vader in the Disney+ series “Obi-Wan.” Patty Jenkins is also directing “Rogue Squadron,” marking the first time a woman will direct a Star Wars film.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--NYC council gives final OK to Flushing waterfront redo

On the day the Winter Meetings would have ended , baseball ...

The City Council easily signed off on a dramatic overhaul of the Flushing waterfront in Queens on Thursday, okaying plans that will bring more than a dozen high-rises to land currently occupied by parking lots and a storage yard.
Lawmakers approved the measure by 38-5 with just one abstention, an overwhelming result amid opposition from left-wing activists who argued developers did not promise the community enough in exchange for the upzoning.
Plans call for the construction of up to 13 towers that can be up to 20 stories tall, which will hold 1,700 apartments and 900 hotel rooms.
The developers promised to pay for the cleanup of Flushing Creek and the construction of an esplanade to open the waterfront to the public, but only 60 of the new apartments are currently going to be set aside for middle and lower-income families under rent regulation.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Disney Plus Reveals First Footage of ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’

During today ’ s Investor Day event , Disney+ dropped the first-ever footage for the very first Marvel Studios TV series , The Falcon and the Winter Soldier .
And unlike all the Marvel shows that MCU devotees have binged on Netflix or watched on ABC , these shows actually feature the movie superheroes played by movie stars .
The Falcon and and the Winter Soldier stars , duh , Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan as their fan favorite Avengers .
After playing backup to Captain America in his feature films , this dynamic duo ’ s taking the lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stream exclusively on Disney+ .
Rounding out the cast are a pair of Marvel actors last seen in 2016 ’ s Captain America : Civil War : Daniel Bruhl as the villainous Zemo and Emily VanCamp as ex-S.H.I.E.L.D .
agent Sharon Carter .
The series will pick up after the events of 2019 ’ s Avengers : Endgame , wherein a 100-year-old Steve Rogers passed the Captain America shield to Falcon .
We already know a lot about the show , but now we know even more thanks to this first look .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the legacy of that shield is complicated.
” Over footage of chaos and fire , Bucky adds , “ the world is upside down .
People need something to get behind .
They need the symbol.
” The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was originally slated to premiere in August , but ran into production delays this year .
After an earthquake halted production in Puerto Rico in January , the series moved to Atlanta , then the Czech Republic , but had to pause production due to the coronavirus .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official release date .
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier premieres on Disney+ on March 19 .
Watch the new trailer above .

During today’s Investor Day event, Disney+ dropped the first-ever footage for the very first Marvel Studios TV series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. And unlike all the Marvel shows that MCU devotees have binged on Netflix or watched on ABC, these shows actually feature the movie superheroes played by movie stars.
The Falcon and and the Winter Soldier stars, duh, Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan as their fan favorite Avengers. After playing backup to Captain America in his feature films, this dynamic duo’s taking the lead in a six-part Marvel mini-series that will stream exclusively on Disney+. Rounding out the cast are a pair of Marvel actors last seen in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War: Daniel Bruhl as the villainous Zemo and Emily VanCamp as ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sharon Carter. The series will pick up after the events of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, wherein a 100-year-old Steve Rogers passed the Captain America shield to Falcon.
We already know a lot about the show, but now we know even more thanks to this first look. The first trailer shows Falcon warning, “the legacy of that shield is complicated.” Over footage of chaos and fire, Bucky adds, “the world is upside down. People need something to get behind. They need the symbol.”
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was originally slated to premiere in August, but ran into production delays this year. After an earthquake halted production in Puerto Rico in January, the series moved to Atlanta, then the Czech Republic, but had to pause production due to the coronavirus. But now, we finally have a new official release date. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier premieres on Disney+ on March 19. Watch the new trailer above.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--New WandaVision Trailer Teases “Unusual” Marvel Couple

After dropping the first WandaVision trailer in September , Disney is back with another look at the highly anticipated Marvel series .
Today , we got to see more of Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany ’ s upcoming sitcom ahead of its January release .
In a brand-new WandaVision trailer , Wanda Maximoff ( Olsen ) and Vision ( Bettany ) show us more of their futuristic life , welcoming us into their time-bending , genre-defying world .
“ We are an unusual couple , ” Wanda admits in the today ’ s trailer , with Vision replying , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was ever in question.
” The new series , which takes place after the events of Avengers : End Game , sees Wanda and Vision living an idyllic life in the suburbs of Westview , but they must conceal their powers from their neighbors and friends .
As they travel through time , they begin to suspect that their reality isn ’ t so picture perfect after all .
While WandaVision was originally slated to premiere in December , it was pushed back to January earlier this fall .
Production halted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the series wrapped in November .
The series marks one of many Marvel projects set to hit Disney+ in the coming year .
Fans are eagerly anticipating a Loki , Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Hawkeye release in 2021 , with more series like What If… ?
and Ms. Marvel also on the way .
WandaVision is written by Black Widow ’ s Jac Schaeffer and directed by Matt Shakman ( It ’ s Always Sunny in Philadelphia ) .
Along with Olsen and Bettany , the series also stars Kathryn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Kat Dennings .
WandaVision premieres on Disney+ Jan. 15 , 2021 .
Watch the full WandaVision trailer in the video above .

After dropping the first WandaVision trailer in September, Disney is back with another look at the highly anticipated Marvel series. Today, we got to see more of Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany’s upcoming sitcom ahead of its January release. In a brand-new WandaVision trailer, Wanda Maximoff (Olsen) and Vision (Bettany) show us more of their futuristic life, welcoming us into their time-bending, genre-defying world.
“We are an unusual couple,” Wanda admits in today’s trailer, with Vision replying, “Oh, I don’t think that was ever in question.” The new series, which takes place after the events of Avengers: End Game, sees Wanda and Vision living an idyllic life in the suburbs of Westview, but they must conceal their powers from their neighbors and friends. As they travel through time, they begin to suspect that their reality isn’t so picture perfect after all.
While WandaVision was originally slated to premiere in December, it was pushed back to January earlier this fall. Production halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the series wrapped in November. The series marks one of many Marvel projects set to hit Disney+ in the coming year. Fans are eagerly anticipating a Loki, Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Hawkeye release in 2021, with more series like What If…? and Ms. Marvel also on the way.
WandaVision is written by Black Widow’s Jac Schaeffer and directed by Matt Shakman (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia). Along with Olsen and Bettany, the series also stars Kathryn Hahn, Randall Park, Teyonah Parris, and Kat Dennings.
WandaVision premieres on Disney+ Jan. 15, 2021. Watch the full WandaVision trailer in the video above.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Noah Hawley Sets ‘Alien’ Series at FX

Noah Hawley Sets ‘Alien’ Series at FX

Noah Hawley is producing a series inspired by sci-fi classic Alien for FX , John Landgraf announced during Disney ’ s Q4 2020 investor call on Thursday afternoon .
The first series based on the iconic film franchise , Alien will take viewers on “ a scary thrill ride set not too far in the future here on Earth , ” teased Disney .
In addition to Hawley , the original Alien franchise director Ridley Scott is expected to join as an executive producer .
Landgraf did not specify how involved Scott will be , but given that he recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Raised by Wolves , it ’ s possible that Scott could step into the director ’ s chair for the Alien series .
If that were the case , fans certainly wouldn ’ t be disappointed .
FX ’ s Alien announcement was just one of many headlines generated throughout network chairman John Landgraf ’ s presentation .
While many of the network ’ s series were halted or pushed due to the COVID-19 pandemic , Landgraf revealed that almost all of them have returned to production , and fans can expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Story , Dave , What We Do in the Shadows , Mayans M.C.
, Better Things , Snowfall , and Archer in 2021 .
Recent collaboration FX on Hulu will also serve as the exclusive home to a variety of new series , including The Old Man , starring Jeff Bridges as a former CIA operative forced to reconcile with his past ; Ryan Murphy ’ s American Horror Stories spinoff series ; B.J .
Novak ’ s Platform , which will tell character-driven stories about our world ; Reservation Dogs , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-gestating comic book adaptation Y : The Last Man ; and a retelling of James Clavell ’ s Shōgun .
But that ’ s not all : It ’ s Always Sunny in Philadelphia , one of the network ’ s most popular series , has been renewed for four additional seasons .
The FX renewal will take Always Sunny through Season 18 , making it the longest-running live action sitcom in TV history .

Noah Hawley is producing a series inspired by sci-fi classic Alien for FX, John Landgraf announced during Disney’s Q4 2020 investor call on Thursday afternoon. The first series based on the iconic film franchise, Alien will take viewers on “a scary thrill ride set not too far in the future here on Earth,” teased Disney.
In addition to Hawley, the original Alien franchise director Ridley Scott is expected to join as an executive producer. Landgraf did not specify how involved Scott will be, but given that he recently directed two episodes of HBO Max’s Raised by Wolves, it’s possible that Scott could step into the director’s chair for the Alien series. If that were the case, fans certainly wouldn’t be disappointed.
FX’s Alien announcement was just one of many headlines generated throughout network chairman John Landgraf’s presentation. While many of the network’s series were halted or pushed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Landgraf revealed that almost all of them have returned to production, and fans can expect new seasons of Atlanta, American Horror Story, Dave, What We Do in the Shadows, Mayans M.C., Better Things, Snowfall, and Archer in 2021.
Recent collaboration FX on Hulu will also serve as the exclusive home to a variety of new series, including The Old Man, starring Jeff Bridges as a former CIA operative forced to reconcile with his past; Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Stories spinoff series; B.J. Novak’s Platform, which will tell character-driven stories about our world; Reservation Dogs, a half-hour comedy series from Taika Waititi; long-gestating comic book adaptation Y: The Last Man; and a retelling of James Clavell’s Shōgun.
But that’s not all: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, one of the network’s most popular series, has been renewed for four additional seasons. The FX renewal will take Always Sunny through Season 18, making it the longest-running live action sitcom in TV history.


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--Steve Cohen’s Mets mission got harder with Phillies’ Dave Dombrowski hire

As the Mets search for a general manager , a rival ...

On the day the Winter Meetings would have ended, baseball enjoyed its first free-agent bombshell.
Who had one of Steve Cohen’s direct rivals delivering the haymaker via hiring a front-office person?
Granted, the Phillies’ landing of Dave Dombrowski as their president of baseball operations, as first reported by The Athletic, doesn’t remove any options from the Mets’ Hot Stove board. Though it’s not known for certain that Sandy Alderson didn’t reach out to Dombrowski in the Mets’ search for a president of baseball operations (a search that has been downgraded to one for a general manager), Dombrowski’s ridiculous résumé makes him a “report directly to the owner” type of executive. Which doesn’t match how the Mets will structure their hierarchy under Cohen and Alderson.
What Dombrowski’s stunning arrival in Philadelphia does, however, is aggravate Cohen’s mission to bring the World Series trophy to Queens in the next three to five years. Because you won’t find a longer, better baseball ops track record in the industry. And because the Phillies found themselves in the odd position of having an owner willing to spend what it takes to win (if not during these tough economic times, then big-picture) and a manager in Joe Girardi who knows how to win with a void in their front office, after they reassigned previous GM Matt Klentak.
Void filled, authoritatively. And just like that, the Mets face another fully loaded foe alongside the three-time defending NL East winners in the Braves and the last full-season champs in the Nationals as well as Derek Jeter’s Marlins, who are coming off their first playoff appearance in 17 years.
Steve Cohen, Dave Dombrowski Mets; AP
Dombrowski, whom the Red Sox fired in September 2019 (less than a year after he led them to the 2018 title), had repeatedly proclaimed his intention to work with the city of Nashville to land either an expansion franchise or a relocated team. His willingness to abandon that plan for the Phillies prompts a short-term question, one that will impact Cohen and the Mets: Will this open back up the Phillies’ spigot?
Owner John Middleton, after spending to bring aboard nine-figured free agents Zack Wheeler last year and Bryce Harper two years ago (not to mention many eight-figured deals in free agency and trades), has sent signals throughout the industry that he intends to cut payroll, with free agents J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius likely cast overboard.
Every team aches after having been hammered by the COVID-reduced 2020 season, which of course featured no paying fans in the regular season. Yet you don’t hire Dombrowski, 64, at this juncture of his career to rebuild or even for too dramatic of a backtrack. Agents crossed their fingers Thursday, as the news broke about Dombrowski (who is fearless when it comes to huge financial commitments), that Middleton would let his new peacock fly.
If Dombrowski must operate with some fiscal constraints, however, and without a strong farm system to use as trade chips, he still poses a threat to the Mets. We’re talking about the executive who signed the released J.D. Martinez to play for the Tigers in 2014 (then paid big bucks for him to join the Bosox in 2018), and who built his latest success, the ’18 Sawx, with under-the-radar pickups like Ryan Brasier, Mitch Moreland, Steve Pearce and Hector Velazquez.
The Phillies, remember, easily would have qualified for the playoffs if not for a relief corps so historically awful that Girardi, who put on a bullpen-management clinic for a decade in The Bronx, couldn’t solve it. Though losing Realmuto and Gregorius would hurt, especially if the Mets wound up with Realmuto instead of the more likely James McCann, Dombrowski has displayed a knack for solving these sorts of problems — a knack that will enshrine him in Cooperstown someday — and a decent foundation in Harper, Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Alec Bohm.
So like the rest of the NL East, the Phils won’t be lying down. No one said having the game’s richest owner would suddenly turn baseball into a cakewalk, right?


newyorkpost--2020-12-10--5-year-old Georgia girl fatally shot by friend while playing with gun

A young Georgia girl was accidentally shot and killed by her friend as the two 5-year-olds played with a loaded gun last week , authorities said .
Jada Willingham and her friend were playing with the gun inside a bedroom of a Lithonia home Friday when the gun went off and a bullet struck Jada in the face , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .
There were two other children and the babysitter in the home at the time .
The 68-year-old babysitter , who is the grandmother of one of the children , rushed to the bedroom and found Jada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police responded to the home around 2:30 p.m. and found the woman holding a cloth to Jada ’ s face , desperately trying to stop the bleeding , according to an arrest report obtained by outlet .
Jada was rushed to Children ’ s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Hospital , where she later died .
The girls had been playing with a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson , which belongs to the playmates ’ mother , who ’ s in the military .
The friend found the weapon in her parent ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and on top of an ammo box .
The two friends then went into a separate bedroom to play with the firearm , the police report states .
Jada ’ s friend told police she didn ’ t know the gun was loaded with bullets , and that she “ only pulled ( the trigger ) back a little bit , ” police said .
Chad Brooks was arrested Saturday and has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children after police said he left the gun unattended .
Cops didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jada ’ s friend .
WAGA-TV reported Brooks is the babysitter ’ s son-in-law .
Keisha Walker demanded other adults should be held responsible for her daughter ’ s death .
“ The babysitter showed so much negligence when my daughter got shot , ” Walker told the TV station .
“ Words can ’ t explain how that little girl was , and I ’ ll never see her again .
I ’ ll never get another Jada .
”

A young Georgia girl was accidentally shot and killed by her friend as the two 5-year-olds played with a loaded gun last week, authorities said.
Jada Willingham and her friend were playing with the gun inside a bedroom of a Lithonia home Friday when the gun went off and a bullet struck Jada in the face, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
There were two other children and the babysitter in the home at the time.
The 68-year-old babysitter, who is the grandmother of one of the children, rushed to the bedroom and found Jada bleeding from her face.
DeKalb County police responded to the home around 2:30 p.m. and found the woman holding a cloth to Jada’s face, desperately trying to stop the bleeding, according to an arrest report obtained by outlet.
Jada was rushed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Hospital, where she later died.
The girls had been playing with a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson, which belongs to the playmates’ mother, who’s in the military.
The friend found the weapon in her parent’s room, tucked under the bed and on top of an ammo box. The two friends then went into a separate bedroom to play with the firearm, the police report states.
Jada’s friend told police she didn’t know the gun was loaded with bullets, and that she “only pulled (the trigger) back a little bit,” police said.
Chad Brooks was arrested Saturday and has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children after police said he left the gun unattended.
Cops didn’t reveal the relationship between Brooks and Jada’s friend. WAGA-TV reported Brooks is the babysitter’s son-in-law.
Keisha Walker demanded other adults should be held responsible for her daughter’s death.
“The babysitter showed so much negligence when my daughter got shot,” Walker told the TV station.
“Words can’t explain how that little girl was, and I’ll never see her again. I’ll never get another Jada.”