newyorkpost--2020-12-20--CuriosityStream is the service you need to quench your thirst for knowledge

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I already know what you ’ re thinking : “ Ugh .
Another streaming service ?
” And to that , I politely ignore your sighs and present you with something a bit out of the ordinary .
It ’ s called CuriosityStream and , as the name implies , it ’ s designed by Discovery Communications founder and media visionary John Hendricks for curious minds .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can stick with Netflix or Hulu and be on your merry way .
If you want your streaming service to offer something more—like an opportunity to learn , get some inspiration , or open your mind—I highly suggest CuriosityStream ’ s endless catalog of documentary films , shows , and shorts .
On sale for $ 149.99 for a lifetime subscription ( as in , zero monthly fees ) , it ’ s much more affordable than its competitors .
But for a collection of only “ educational ” content , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 13 million paying subscribers in more than 175 countries .
So , obviously , I had to do a deep dive for myself .
Creating an account was a breeze and upon logging in on my browser I was greeted with a layout almost identical to Netflix .
However , rather than genres like TV Comedies and Action & Adventure , the categories capture topics like The Mind ; Science , Space & Tech ; and , of course , Unsolved Mystery & Crime .
Intrigued , I opted for the latter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once you choose a category , you can scroll to find a documentary film , TV show , or short to appease your thirst for knowledge , or you can simply hit “ Play All ” at the top of the screen .
All titles are available in either HD or 4K .
I personally opted for The Case , a 12-episode cinematic series from France about the grueling cases that haunt cops for life , as my first watch .
It did not disappoint .
I don ’ t consider myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I can ’ t stay awake for films longer than 90 minutes .
But CuriosityStream offers such a wide-ranging catalog that I can finally enjoy nonfiction flicks in a way that works for me .
There are even CuriosityStream exclusives as short as 15 minutes .
Even my inattentive brain can handle that !
While I don ’ t have a ton of time on my hands these days to binge , I did manage to watch an episode of the CuriosityStream-produced Beyond the Spotlight .
Believe it or not , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kristen Bell ) even more , which is the exact opposite of what social media does , so bravo !
I also peeped an episode of BBC ’ s A Stitch in Time and started the film Fiddlin ’ , which I ’ m itching to finish .
To be completely honest , I ’ m overwhelmed by the amount of content on CuriosityStream .
With thousands of titles already in the catalog , they still add more every single week .
In other words , nobody may hear from me for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google Chrome , I decided it would be better to switch to my TV for the full experience .
I quickly downloaded the CuriosityStream app on my Fire TV Stick , logged in , and seamlessly continued streaming .
Aside from your regular browser , CuriosityStream is available on nearly all streaming video platforms : Amazon Fire TV , Roku , Apple TV , Xbox , and more .
Plus , you can get the app on iOS and Android devices as well .
I went ahead and downloaded the app to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching as I biked some indoor miles , and the entire experience was smooth as butter .
The mobile app is just as responsive , vivid , and easy to use as the Fire TV app and the browser itself .
Plus , it lets you text and doomscroll while you watch , thanks to a sweet picture-in-picture mode .
A dream come true !
When you find something you want to watch , you can either view it on the spot or add it to your watchlist .
That watchlist will sync @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will the spot you left off .
And similar to Netflix , the more you watch , the more CuriosityStream learns your preferences and recommends flicks for you .
You can also rate titles you like for even more personalized recommendations .
Even if you don ’ t consider yourself a documentary person , CuriosityStream ’ s wide selection , seamless user experience , striking quality , and an overwhelming flow of content is well worth the $ 149.99 for lifetime access .
And it ’ s sure to satisfy your thirst for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth is but a mere suggestion .

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store, from our partner StackCommerce. NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links.
I already know what you’re thinking: “Ugh. Another streaming service?” And to that, I politely ignore your sighs and present you with something a bit out of the ordinary. It’s called CuriosityStream and, as the name implies, it’s designed by Discovery Communications founder and media visionary John Hendricks for curious minds.
If you’re looking for mindless entertainment, you can stick with Netflix or Hulu and be on your merry way. If you want your streaming service to offer something more—like an opportunity to learn, get some inspiration, or open your mind—I highly suggest CuriosityStream’s endless catalog of documentary films, shows, and shorts.
On sale for $149.99 for a lifetime subscription (as in, zero monthly fees), it’s much more affordable than its competitors. But for a collection of only “educational” content, it came as a surprise that it has over 13 million paying subscribers in more than 175 countries. So, obviously, I had to do a deep dive for myself.
Documentary Films, TV Shows, and Shorts
Creating an account was a breeze and upon logging in on my browser I was greeted with a layout almost identical to Netflix. However, rather than genres like TV Comedies and Action & Adventure, the categories capture topics like The Mind; Science, Space & Tech; and, of course, Unsolved Mystery & Crime. Intrigued, I opted for the latter to kick off my personal watch party.
Once you choose a category, you can scroll to find a documentary film, TV show, or short to appease your thirst for knowledge, or you can simply hit “Play All” at the top of the screen. All titles are available in either HD or 4K. I personally opted for The Case, a 12-episode cinematic series from France about the grueling cases that haunt cops for life, as my first watch. It did not disappoint.
I don’t consider myself much of a documentary person, mostly because I can’t stay awake for films longer than 90 minutes. But CuriosityStream offers such a wide-ranging catalog that I can finally enjoy nonfiction flicks in a way that works for me. There are even CuriosityStream exclusives as short as 15 minutes. Even my inattentive brain can handle that!
While I don’t have a ton of time on my hands these days to binge, I did manage to watch an episode of the CuriosityStream-produced Beyond the Spotlight. Believe it or not, it actually made me like a celebrity (Kristen Bell) even more, which is the exact opposite of what social media does, so bravo! I also peeped an episode of BBC’s A Stitch in Time and started the film Fiddlin’, which I’m itching to finish.
To be completely honest, I’m overwhelmed by the amount of content on CuriosityStream. With thousands of titles already in the catalog, they still add more every single week. In other words, nobody may hear from me for a while.
A Seamless User Experience
While I started watching on Google Chrome, I decided it would be better to switch to my TV for the full experience. I quickly downloaded the CuriosityStream app on my Fire TV Stick, logged in, and seamlessly continued streaming. Aside from your regular browser, CuriosityStream is available on nearly all streaming video platforms: Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, and more. Plus, you can get the app on iOS and Android devices as well. I went ahead and downloaded the app to my iPhone 11, so I could continue watching as I biked some indoor miles, and the entire experience was smooth as butter. The mobile app is just as responsive, vivid, and easy to use as the Fire TV app and the browser itself. Plus, it lets you text and doomscroll while you watch, thanks to a sweet picture-in-picture mode. A dream come true!
When you find something you want to watch, you can either view it on the spot or add it to your watchlist. That watchlist will sync across all of your devices, as will the spot you left off. And similar to Netflix, the more you watch, the more CuriosityStream learns your preferences and recommends flicks for you. You can also rate titles you like for even more personalized recommendations.
The Bottom Line
Even if you don’t consider yourself a documentary person, CuriosityStream’s wide selection, seamless user experience, striking quality, and an overwhelming flow of content is well worth the $149.99 for lifetime access. And it’s sure to satisfy your thirst for knowledge and facts in a time where the truth is but a mere suggestion.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--New York, New Jersey hide full details of COVID-19 spending

Congress is on the brink of an agreement on a ...

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New York and New Jersey, early hot spots during the COVID-19 pandemic, have so far declined to release detailed breakdowns of their spending on personal protective gear and medical equipment during the first frenzied months of the virus outbreak.
The administration of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said the state spent $830 million through nearly 400 contracts on protective gear and durable medical equipment from March through November.
An online database maintained by the state comptroller’s office lists basic information about those deals, including names of vendors and the dates and amounts of payments.
But state officials have for months refused public records requests for purchase orders that would reveal comprehensive details, like how many masks, gowns and ventilators it ordered from each vendor, how many orders were fulfilled, and how much it has recovered from failed deals.
Nationwide, reporting by The Associated Press revealed that from the time the virus began spreading in the U.S. until summer, states spent more than $7 billion on personal protective gear and high-end medical equipment such as ventilators and infrared thermometers. Much of that spending was done outside the normal competitive bidding process and had not previously been disclosed publicly.
Every state except New York and New Jersey responded to AP’s public records request by providing a detailed breakdown of the spending and suppliers.
“That is black letter public information,” Empire Center for Public Policy Senior Fellow for Health Policy Bill Hammond said. “There’s nothing more clearly that the public is entitled to know than how their money is being spent.”
The AP first requested details about purchases in the spring, but Cuomo’s administration never provided them. Cuomo’s budget office asked AP in July to formally submit a request through New York’s open records law. Since then, the administration has sent the AP monthly notices saying it needs more time to search for and review records. The latest estimate was mid- to late January.
Cuomo’s office and the Department of Health did not respond to requests for comment to explain the repeated delays.
New Jersey also failed to provide purchase orders for personal protective equipment, saying fulfilling the request would be “substantially disruptive to agency operations.”
The state did provide a one-page document showing it spent $164 million for 153 million pieces of equipment, including masks, gloves, goggles, beds and even morgue trucks.
“Due to the number of contracts and purchase orders responsive to your request, it would be substantially disruptive to agency operations to collect each individual contract or purchase order, identify the specific source of funding, and review it for any necessary redactions prior to production,” the state Health Department said in response to the AP’s request.
The failure to provide full transparency on COVID-19 purchases leaves unanswered how much money the states spent on needed items that quickly skyrocketed in price and the extent that they turned to untested suppliers at a time when the federal government largely left such purchasing up to the states.
Cameron Macdonald, executive director of the Government Justice Center, said the data also could shed a light on questions surrounding the state’s stockpile of protective gear and medical supplies ahead of the pandemic.
“Nobody knows how much of that expired, how much they were playing catch up in the spring,” he said.
By late March, multiple states had suspended usual safeguards for the awarding of contracts amid a heated competition among states, counties, hospitals and even other countries for ventilators and equipment to protect front-line medical workers.
Cuomo promised companies that could help manufacture protective gear for New York that they would face no “red tape.” He sent staffers to China as part of efforts to procure 7,000 ventilators but warned the state still needed federal help: “We’ve tried everything else.”
Some specific purchases have been confirmed publicly by the Cuomo administration to media outlets. Among those are $122 million in payments to Brooklyn-based Dome International for a hoped-for 5,700 ventilators and $69 million to Silicon Valley businessman Yaron Oren Pines.
But few details of those purchases have been released. Cuomo aides have said the state was trying to get back some or all of the payments made to companies that didn’t produce promised gear.
“While the vast majority of goods have been received, there were a few instances where items ordered have not been delivered in whole or in part,” said Office of General Services spokesperson Heather Groll.
About $223 million has been recovered so far, she said in a written statement.
She declined to specify which orders were unfulfilled and how much money the state is trying to recover, saying it “does not want to jeopardize its negotiating ability by providing details.”
The AP sought purchase orders that included the vendors’ name and address, the date, a description of the items purchased, the quantity of items bought, and the price.
New Jersey’s Government Records Council, which oversees the state’s public records law, “requires that custodians must ordinarily grant immediate access to budgets, bills, vouchers, contracts.” (New Jersey refers to purchase orders as vouchers.)
“It’s deeply troubling that they would deny access to payment vouchers, which are quintessential public records that help people monitor how taxpayer money is spent,” said CJ Griffin, a New Jersey attorney who specializes in public records law.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Man arrested on a cross-country trip with a twelve-year-old girl

FRESNO , Calif. — A self-proclaimed pedophilia advocate who once ran for political office in Virginia has been arrested by authorities who said they caught him flying across the country earlier this week with a 12-year-old girl he had persuaded to run away from her California home .
Nathan Larson , 40 , made the girl wear a long-haired wig to make her look older and told her to pretend to be mute during their travel , Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims announced on Saturday .
The investigation began Monday morning when the girl ’ s family reported her missing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mims said detectives learned that Larson , a resident of Catlett , Virginia , met the girl previously through social media , flew to California and persuaded her to sneak out of her house around 2 a.m. Monday .
They took a rideshare car to the Fresno Airport , where they board a plane bound for Washington , D.C. , she added .
Larson was taken into custody and the girl was rescued by a Denver police officer who stopped the pair during their layover in Colorado , Mims said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reunited with her family .
Mims said that while the girl was not physically harmed detectives have evidence of inappropriate touching at the airport .
She said the steps Larson had taken to groom the girl were of a “ sophisticated nature ” and asked anyone who may have had inappropriate contact with Larson to contact police .
She also urged parents to always monitor their children ’ s internet activity and who they are communicating with online .
Federal agents searched Larson ’ s house and discovered that during the past two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Larson persuaded the girl to send him pornographic images of herself , according to Mims .
During the search , Larson ’ s 69-year-old father , Arthur Larson , assaulted a federal agent and was arrested , she said .
Charged with assault and battery , the father was later released from jail after posting bond .
Mims said detectives also discovered the son ’ s “ deeply disturbing background.
” “ He is a white supremacist and a well-known advocate for pedophilia , ” she said of the younger Larson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a website , which encourages the raping of children and sharing of naked photos and video of children being raped.
” Nathan Larson ran and lost a 2017 campaign to become a member of the Virginia House of Delegates , representing the 31st House District encompassing Prince William and Fauquier counties in northern Virginia .
He ran as an independent and his platform included advocating for fathers to be able to marry their daughters , legalizing child pornography and suppressing women ’ s rights .
In 2009 , while living in Boulder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months in prison after pleading guilty to sending an email to the Secret Service that he intended to kill the president “ in the near future.
” It is unclear whether Larson was referring to then-President George W. Bush or then-President-elect Barack Obama .
Larson was being held in the Denver County jail facing a misdemeanor charge of harboring a minor .
However , Fresno County authorities will seek an extradition request to Fresno where he will face felony charges of kidnapping , child abduction , soliciting child pornography from a minor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sex .
It wasn ’ t immediately known whether he has a lawyer .

FRESNO, Calif. — A self-proclaimed pedophilia advocate who once ran for political office in Virginia has been arrested by authorities who said they caught him flying across the country earlier this week with a 12-year-old girl he had persuaded to run away from her California home.
Nathan Larson, 40, made the girl wear a long-haired wig to make her look older and told her to pretend to be mute during their travel, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims announced on Saturday.
The investigation began Monday morning when the girl’s family reported her missing from her bedroom in Fresno, California.
Mims said detectives learned that Larson, a resident of Catlett, Virginia, met the girl previously through social media, flew to California and persuaded her to sneak out of her house around 2 a.m. Monday. They took a rideshare car to the Fresno Airport, where they board a plane bound for Washington, D.C., she added.
Larson was taken into custody and the girl was rescued by a Denver police officer who stopped the pair during their layover in Colorado, Mims said. The girl was not injured and later was reunited with her family.
Mims said that while the girl was not physically harmed detectives have evidence of inappropriate touching at the airport.
She said the steps Larson had taken to groom the girl were of a “sophisticated nature” and asked anyone who may have had inappropriate contact with Larson to contact police. She also urged parents to always monitor their children’s internet activity and who they are communicating with online.
Federal agents searched Larson’s house and discovered that during the past two months since meeting her online in October, Larson persuaded the girl to send him pornographic images of herself, according to Mims. During the search, Larson’s 69-year-old father, Arthur Larson, assaulted a federal agent and was arrested, she said.
Charged with assault and battery, the father was later released from jail after posting bond.
Mims said detectives also discovered the son’s “deeply disturbing background.”
“He is a white supremacist and a well-known advocate for pedophilia,” she said of the younger Larson. “This is a man who runs a website, which encourages the raping of children and sharing of naked photos and video of children being raped.”
Homeland Security Investigations searching the house of Nathan Larson in Catlett, Va AP
Nathan Larson ran and lost a 2017 campaign to become a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 31st House District encompassing Prince William and Fauquier counties in northern Virginia. He ran as an independent and his platform included advocating for fathers to be able to marry their daughters, legalizing child pornography and suppressing women’s rights.
In 2009, while living in Boulder, Colorado, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to sending an email to the Secret Service that he intended to kill the president “in the near future.” It is unclear whether Larson was referring to then-President George W. Bush or then-President-elect Barack Obama.
He wound up serving 14 months.
Larson was being held in the Denver County jail facing a misdemeanor charge of harboring a minor. However, Fresno County authorities will seek an extradition request to Fresno where he will face felony charges of kidnapping, child abduction, soliciting child pornography from a minor and meeting a child for the intention of sex.
It wasn’t immediately known whether he has a lawyer.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--California mall shooting leaves one man wounded

A gunman is being sought after opening fire at a California shopping mall Saturday evening , wounding one man and sending panicked customers to run for cover , authorities said .
Officers responded to the Great Mall in Milpitas around 5:20 p.m. on reports of a shooting outside an Old Navy store , Milpitas Police Department Lt. Tyler Jamison told the Los Angeles Times .
Jamison declined to comment on the victim ’ s condition .
Videos on social media showed people locked in stores before police released them to safety .
Earlier , Milpitas police on Twitter urged people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area .
“ ALL CLEAR , teams have concluded their searches of the mall interior .
Everyone who was sheltering-in-place has been escorted out safely .
There were no additional victims associated with this shooting , ” the department tweeted around 9:30 p.m .
Witness Angelo Palma said he and his friend stopped at the mall after their church meeting when they saw people running .
“ We started running , ” Palma told KNTV .
“ Everyone just started running .
People were running forward , people were running back .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” An investigation is continuing , and police have not released information about the suspect ’ s whereabouts .

A gunman is being sought after opening fire at a California shopping mall Saturday evening, wounding one man and sending panicked customers to run for cover, authorities said.
Officers responded to the Great Mall in Milpitas around 5:20 p.m. on reports of a shooting outside an Old Navy store, Milpitas Police Department Lt. Tyler Jamison told the Los Angeles Times.
Jamison declined to comment on the victim’s condition.
Videos on social media showed people locked in stores before police released them to safety.
Earlier, Milpitas police on Twitter urged people to shelter in place until cops cleared the area.
“ALL CLEAR, teams have concluded their searches of the mall interior. Everyone who was sheltering-in-place has been escorted out safely. There were no additional victims associated with this shooting,” the department tweeted around 9:30 p.m.
Witness Angelo Palma said he and his friend stopped at the mall after their church meeting when they saw people running.
“We started running,” Palma told KNTV. “Everyone just started running. People were running forward, people were running back. People were falling. It was hectic.”
An investigation is continuing, and police have not released information about the suspect’s whereabouts.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--McDonald’s plans to sell ‘Spam burger’ topped with Oreos in China: report

No one is lovin ’ this combo .
McDonald ’ s is reportedly planning to debut a “ Spam burger @ @ @ @ @ in China this week .
The unusual combination will only be sold on Monday , @ @ @ @ @ media platform Weibo .
Video game analyst Daniel Ahmed tweeted Thursday that 400,000 of the @ @ @ @ @ sold .
Ahmed also posted a photo of the burger — showing two slices of @ @ @ @ @ in between two buns .
People on social media were hardly signing up to taste @ @ @ @ @ How the hell does an Oreo work in a burger ?
?
disgusting , ” @ @ @ @ @ “ Seriously one of the most disgusting burgers I ever heard of , ” wrote @ @

No one is lovin’ this combo.
McDonald’s is reportedly planning to debut a “Spam burger” topped with crushed Oreos in China this week.
The unusual combination will only be sold on Monday, according to the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
Video game analyst Daniel Ahmed tweeted Thursday that 400,000 of the limited edition burgers will be sold.
Ahmed also posted a photo of the burger — showing two slices of Spam topped with crumbled Oreos in between two buns.
People on social media were hardly signing up to taste test the thing.
“How the hell does an Oreo work in a burger?? disgusting,” said one Twitter user.
“Seriously one of the most disgusting burgers I ever heard of,” wrote another.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Tennessee boy plays hero, saves baby sister from raging house fire

“ I didn ’ t want my sister to die , ” a 7-year-old Tennessee boy explained of rescuing his year-old sibling from a raging fire that destroyed their home on Tuesday .
Parents Nicole and Chris Davidson , two former firefighters , first smelled smoke in the middle of the night and quickly tried to get their three children out of their burning New Tazewell home , WVLT reported .
Nicole Davidson recalled the flames didn ’ t allow her to go to her 22-month-old daughters ’ room .
That ’ s when little Eli Davidson came to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Eli ’ s parents gave him a boost so he could enter his sister ’ s room through her window .
Once inside , he grabbed her from her crib and handed her to their father safely , before jumping back down again , according to WVLT .
Eli said he put his fears aside and solely focused on saving his baby sister .
“ Dad busted the window and then I said , ‘ I can ’ t do it , ’ like two times , and then I said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the boy told the outlet .
“ When we went down there I said , ‘ I was scared but I didn ’ t want my sister to die . '
” Their home was completely destroyed after firefighters put out the flames .
The family is now staying with relatives nearby .
No injuries were reported .
Authorities believe the blaze began as an electrical fire .

“I didn’t want my sister to die,” a 7-year-old Tennessee boy explained of rescuing his year-old sibling from a raging fire that destroyed their home on Tuesday.
Parents Nicole and Chris Davidson, two former firefighters, first smelled smoke in the middle of the night and quickly tried to get their three children out of their burning New Tazewell home, WVLT reported.
Nicole Davidson recalled the flames didn’t allow her to go to her 22-month-old daughters’ room.
That’s when little Eli Davidson came to the rescue.
After the family got out, Eli’s parents gave him a boost so he could enter his sister’s room through her window.
Once inside, he grabbed her from her crib and handed her to their father safely, before jumping back down again, according to WVLT.
Eli said he put his fears aside and solely focused on saving his baby sister.
“Dad busted the window and then I said, ‘I can’t do it,’ like two times, and then I said, ‘I got her dad,'” the boy told the outlet. “When we went down there I said, ‘I was scared but I didn’t want my sister to die.'”
Their home was completely destroyed after firefighters put out the flames. The family is now staying with relatives nearby.
No injuries were reported. Authorities believe the blaze began as an electrical fire.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Leah Remini says Tom Cruise’s  COVID-19 rant is a publicity stunt

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 ) Leah Remini is not buying Tom Cruise ’ s explosive , on-set COVID-19 rant , instead claiming he ’ s doing it all for publicity .
The “ Scientology and the Aftermath ” host told The Underground Bunker , an anti-Scientology website , on Wednesday that Cruise ’ s angry outburst toward film staff was just for show and that his “ abusive ” personality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bet that Tom had this rant written for him and had his Scientology assistant record and release it , ” she claimed , saying Cruise blew his top “ for public relations only.
” “ Tom ’ s reaction that was released yesterday shows his true personality , ” Remini , 50 , said .
“ He is an abusive person .
I witnessed it , I ’ ve been a recipient of it on a small level , and I ’ ve been told of similar abuse by his former girlfriend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the real Tom.
” The Sun released audio recordings last week of Cruise berating staff on the set of “ Mission : Impossible 7 ” in England .
The “ Top Gun ” star erupted when he saw two crew members within six feet of each other , the outlet reported .
Cruise then threatened that he ’ d fire them is they didn ’ t follow strict COVID-19 during production .
“ If I see you do it again , you ’ re f—ing gone , ” he can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if anyone in this crew does it , that ’ s it — and you too and you too .
And you , don ’ t you ever f—ing do it again.
” Five staffers later quit as a result of Cruise ’ s rant .

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Leah Remini is not buying Tom Cruise’s explosive, on-set COVID-19 rant, instead claiming he’s doing it all for publicity.
The “Scientology and the Aftermath” host told The Underground Bunker, an anti-Scientology website, on Wednesday that Cruise’s angry outburst toward film staff was just for show and that his “abusive” personality is nothing new.
“I would bet that Tom had this rant written for him and had his Scientology assistant record and release it,” she claimed, saying Cruise blew his top “for public relations only.”
“Tom’s reaction that was released yesterday shows his true personality,” Remini, 50, said.
“He is an abusive person. I witnessed it, I’ve been a recipient of it on a small level, and I’ve been told of similar abuse by his former girlfriend, his employees, and his friends. This is the real Tom.”
The Sun released audio recordings last week of Cruise berating staff on the set of “Mission: Impossible 7” in England.
The “Top Gun” star erupted when he saw two crew members within six feet of each other, the outlet reported.
Cruise then threatened that he’d fire them is they didn’t follow strict COVID-19 during production.
“If I see you do it again, you’re f—ing gone,” he can be heard yelling on audiotape . “And if anyone in this crew does it, that’s it — and you too and you too. And you, don’t you ever f—ing do it again.”
Five staffers later quit as a result of Cruise’s rant.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Congress nearing deal on $900 billion COVID-19 relief package

Congress is on the brink of an agreement on a long-awaited $ 900 billion COVID-19 relief package , thanks to a last-minute compromise over a key loan provision that has been struck by Sen. Pat Toomey , R-Pa. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-NY .
The bipartisan compromise means a final deal was now “ very close , ” Schumer said as he emerged from negotiations close to midnight , Fox News reported .
“ If things continue on this path and nothing gets in the way , we ’ ll be able to vote tomorrow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The stumbling block lifted as negotiations stretched into Saturday night , when Toomey and Schumer struck an agreement on whether the Federal Reserve could restart emergency lending programs to help corporate , municipal and medium-size businesses .
Toomey had insisted the Fed and the Treasury Departement to be barred from setting up any loan program similar to those set up this year , The New York Times reported .
Democrats , meanwhile , had indicated that they will refuse to discuss any curb on the central bank ’ s lending power , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermine the incoming Biden administration .
Under the compromise , only lending programs that would be identical , or nearly identical , to those established this year would be banned , The Times reported .
There had been broad consensus by late Saturday afternoon that the Toomey roadblock was the last and most significant obstacle preventing a deal .
“ Why isn ’ t Congress giving our people a Stimulus Bill ?
” Trump complained in a tweet just after midnight .
“ It wasn ’ t their fault , it was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and give them more money in direct payments.
” The ultimate relief package is expected to provide $ 300 billion in small-business relief , $ 600 direct payments to Americans and funds for vaccine distribution .

Congress is on the brink of an agreement on a long-awaited $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, thanks to a last-minute compromise over a key loan provision that has been struck by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY.
The bipartisan compromise means a final deal was now “very close,” Schumer said as he emerged from negotiations close to midnight, Fox News reported.
“If things continue on this path and nothing gets in the way, we’ll be able to vote tomorrow,” he said, meaning Sunday.
The stumbling block lifted as negotiations stretched into Saturday night, when Toomey and Schumer struck an agreement on whether the Federal Reserve could restart emergency lending programs to help corporate, municipal and medium-size businesses.
Toomey had insisted the Fed and the Treasury Departement to be barred from setting up any loan program similar to those set up this year, The New York Times reported.
Democrats, meanwhile, had indicated that they will refuse to discuss any curb on the central bank’s lending power, which they see as a partisan bid to undermine the incoming Biden administration.
Under the compromise, only lending programs that would be identical, or nearly identical, to those established this year would be banned, The Times reported.
There had been broad consensus by late Saturday afternoon that the Toomey roadblock was the last and most significant obstacle preventing a deal.
“Why isn’t Congress giving our people a Stimulus Bill?” Trump complained in a tweet just after midnight.
“It wasn’t their fault, it was the fault of China. GET IT DONE, and give them more money in direct payments.”
The ultimate relief package is expected to provide $300 billion in small-business relief, $600 direct payments to Americans and funds for vaccine distribution.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Facing Rams could get ugly for Jets as schedule shows no mercy

All Denzel Mims could do was watch last week as ...

The NFL schedule-makers showed no mercy for the Jets.
Gang Green face another playoff contender this week in the Rams. The Jets (0-13) could use a game against a team in their weight class, but that has not come, as the past three games have been against teams with playoff hopes, and that continues Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.
The Jets enter this game with the worst offense in football (269.8 yards per game). The Rams (9-4) enter the game with the best defense in football (allowing 285.8 yards per game). This one could get very ugly.
The question about the Jets for weeks has been whether this team would pack it in and give less effort. Even in the 40-3 loss to the Seahawks last week, it did not look like a lack of effort, just a lack of talent.
Coach Adam Gase was asked this week if players have started dreaming of where they will be flying when the season ends in two weeks.
Jets coach Adam Gase AP
“I haven’t seen that,” Gase said. “I think guys have done a good job of resetting and getting ready to go to the next one. They know what kind of challenge we have this week, they know how we have to play, they know this has to be a well-played complementary football game for us to put ourselves in position in the fourth quarter.”
This is the Jets’ third trip to the West Coast in the past month and their second in two weeks. The original plan was to stay out West and practice between the games at the Seahawks and the Rams, but COVID-19 protocols made them change those plans, and they will be taking four cross-country flights in 10 days.
“I think Wednesday we were a little sluggish, I know that trip was a long trip, just trying to get guys kind of back on schedule and things like that,” Gase said. “Thursday, there was a noticeable uptake in energy level, execution, practice. When we left practice [Thursday] I felt good about kind of where we’re at.”
For quarterback Sam Darnold, a trip to the Los Angeles area should have been a happy homecoming. Darnold grew up about an hour south in San Clemente and would have had family and friends in the stands. Instead, he will be playing in an empty stadium for a winless team with his future in question.
“I was looking forward to going home, seeing some family if possible, but obviously that’s not a thing,” Darnold said. “But we are looking forward to going there and playing a good team and having that opportunity.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Saints-Chiefs is much more than a battle of Super Bowl contenders

Let ’ s not be in such a hurry to bury the ...

If it’s Week 15 in the NFL and the matchup pits two legitimate Super Bowl contenders from each conference, then it’s a no-brainer as The Post’s Big Game.
The showdown between the Chiefs (12-1) and the Saints (10-3) on Sunday in New Orleans got an early Christmas present when it was revealed late in the week that Saints quarterback Drew Brees will return after missing four games with injuries to his ribs and lung.
That means this game will mark the first meeting between Mahomes and Brees, which is a bonus that goes along with both teams vying for the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences.
Brees, 41, returned to practice during the week after missing time because of 11 broken ribs and a punctured lung. The Saints won three of the past four games they played with Taysom Hill starting in place of Brees.
The Chiefs are currently the top seed in the AFC, with a one-game lead over the Steelers. The Saints are tied for the best record in the NFC, but they’re currently the No. 2 seed based on an early-season loss to the Packers.
The Chiefs just clinched their fifth consecutive AFC West title. The Saints, with a win over Kansas City, would clinch their fourth consecutive NFC South title.
If this isn’t a potential Super Bowl preview, then there is no such thing.
Saints coach Sean Payton is on record saying he considered drafting Mahomes in 2017, but the Saints had the 11th-overall pick and the Chiefs traded up to No. 10 to pick Mahomes. So, with that 11th pick, the Saints took cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who became NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and remains the team’s top cornerback. Sunday will be the first time Lattimore will play against Mahomes.
Drew Brees and Patrick Mahomes Getty Images (2)
“Everything worked out for the best,” Lattimore told reporters this week. “He’s over there doing his thing. I’m over here doing my thing. So, everybody won. And yeah, I’m excited to play him because he’s one of the great up-and-coming quarterbacks. So you know our game is going to be way up, and you know we’re going to be ready for him.
“It’s going to be a great battle. I feel like we’re stacked, just like they’re stacked. So, we’re going to go out there and play, and the best man wins.”
The Saints are coming off a 24-21 upset loss to the struggling Eagles. That loss ended New Orleans’ nine-game winning streak, leaving the Chiefs’ eight-game winning streak as the longest in the NFL.
Mahomes, who’s coming off an uncharacteristicly uneven game (for him) with a season-high three interceptions against the Dolphins last Sunday, is the NFL’s leading passer. He has six consecutive 300-yard passing games and nine overall this season.
His tight end, Travis Kelce, is 127 receiving yards short of the NFL single-season record for a his position. Kelce leads the league with 1,250 yards and could become the first tight end to ever lead the league in receiving yards.
Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill leads the NFL with 16 touchdown receptions and, as a complement to the most prolific passing game in the league, Kansas City has running backs LeVeon Bell and rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
The Saints’ defense is ranked No. 2 in the league and has produced 36 sacks. But the unit is coming off a poor performance against the Eagles.
The Saints had not allowed any player to rush for 100 yards in an NFL-record 55 consecutive games until two Eagles players accomplished that in the same game — running back Miles Sanders (115) and quarterback Jalen Hurts (106).
“Obviously, when you give up 240 yards rushing, there aren’t a lot of things you did well,” Payton said.
With Brees back in the starting lineup, Jameis Winston will continue to be the Saints’ No. 2 quarterback, with Hill going back to his hybrid role, which includes some plays at quarterback.
One significant thing to watch in this game is the Chiefs’ offensive line issues. Three of their tackles — right tackle Mike Remmers, left tackle Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz — have been unable to practice because of back ailments.
That would leave Yasir Durant, an undrafted rookie, playing at right tackle and lining up against Saints pass rusher Cameron Jordan, who has 6.5 sacks. New Orleans defensive end Trey Hendrickson has 10.5 sacks.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Notre Dame adds rare drama to College Football Playoff selection

The College Football Playoff semifinal scheduled to be played at ...

It’s all about the Irish.
The other three spots in Sunday’s College Football Playoff announcements should be locks. But the fourth selection could bring drama.
Undefeated Alabama will be No. 1 after getting by Florida, 52-46, in the SEC championship game. Clemson, without a loss when Trevor Lawrence is under center, is No. 2 following its 34-10 dismantling of Notre Dame in the ACC final. Ohio State, despite playing just six games, has the inside track on the third seed thanks to its shorthanded, grind-it-out, 22-10 victory over Northwestern in the Big Ten title game.
Then, it comes down to Notre Dame, and how much its no-show performance on Saturday impacts coach Brian Kelly’s team. There is now at least a discussion, questions if a poor final impression could sway the 13-member committee into passing on the Irish, who were ranked second in the latest College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday. There hasn’t been this much uncertainty since the first year of the playoff, when Ohio State leapfrogged TCU in 2014.
The leading contender to replace the Irish on Sunday would be one-loss Texas A&M, which closed the season with seven straight wins and was ranked fifth on Tuesday. It sets up an intriguing decision, pitting the powerhouse SEC against one of the most popular and iconic programs in the country. As always, ratings will be considered, and few teams draw more eyeballs than Notre Dame.
Notre Dame offensive lineman Aaron Banks AP
Like Notre Dame, the Aggies’ one loss was an ugly one, a 52-24 setback to Alabama on Oct. 3.
The two teams have similar résumés, though Notre Dame’s is better. The Irish have four wins over teams above .500 and Texas A&M has just two. It has two top-25 wins, compared to one for its SEC counterpart, and has played two more games, and as a result owns two more wins. It’s best win, over Clemson, is more impressive than the Aggies’ best victory, a three-point home win over three-loss Florida on Oct. 10, even if the Gators became the first team on Saturday night to push Alabama this year.
The caveat is the state of Clemson in the double-overtime loss to Notre Dame. It was without Lawrence, the presumed No. 1 pick in April’s NFL draft, and three key defensive starters, James Skalski, Tyler Davis and Mike Jones Jr. In the rematch, the Tigers manhandled the ACC regular season champions, dominating on both sides of the ball en route to their sixth straight conference crown.
Another factor: Notre Dame won its regular season conference title. It played in the league’s championship game. Texas A&M couldn’t say it has done either, even if it did defeat Florida, the SEC East winner. In the six-year history of the playoff, only two teams — Ohio State in 2016 and Alabama in 2017 — have been selected without reaching their conference championship game.
“We’ve got two top-15 wins,” Kelly told reporters Saturday after the lopsided loss to Clemson. “We’ve got a win over this Clemson team that was No. 1 in the country. I don’t know that anybody has a résumé that has those two wins, and we’ve played 11 games. That matters, playing 11 games. Testing your team week in and week out I think in my mind puts us as without question as one of the top four teams in the country.”
Predictably, Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher used the strength of the SEC as the basis of his argument on Saturday, and took aim at Ohio State and not Notre Dame, claiming that the amount of games a team plays needs to be factored in. He also pointed out that no one-loss SEC team has ever not been included in the playoff and when the Aggies faced Alabama, it had superstar receiver Jaylen Waddle, who has been out since October with a broken ankle.
“If you’re gonna pick the best four teams, we’re one of them,” Fisher said.
That’s, of course, up for debate.
It’s hard to envision anyone else really being in play, though other contenders include undefeated Cincinnati of the AAC, and Big 12 champion and two-loss Oklahoma. Both, however, are long shots.
Ranked ninth, Cincinnati lacks the type of win the committee values — No. 23 Tulsa doesn’t cut it — plus a non power-conference program has never been invited to the playoff. Oklahoma is streaking at the right time, with seventh straight wins, three top-25 victories, a victory over sixth-ranked Iowa State and four wins over teams with a .500 record or better. However, a two-loss team has never been selected, and a setback to four-win Kansas State is a major stain on the resume.
It almost certainly will come down to Notre Dame and Texas A&M. Early Sunday afternoon, we find out what this committee values more: Résumé or recency.


newyorkpost--2020-12-19--Britain’s longest-suffering COVID-19 patient gets a holiday miracle

Britain ’ s longest-suffering coronavirus patient — hospitalized for 222 days , or nearly eight months — is a father of five whose family more than once refused to let him be taken off life support , according to the Mirror .
Now their faith in dad Ali Sakallioglu , 57 , has been rewarded .
“ I was given zero chance of survival , so it feels like a miracle to be able to celebrate Christmas , ” he said .
“ On three different occasions they phoned my daughter and told her to get everyone down because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he recalled .
Now , he said , “ I can ’ t wait for Christmas – I have to be careful as I want to be here next Christmas.
” The cabbie will be sitting down to dinner on the holiday with his girlfriend , one of his sons and the son ’ s girlfriend at the family ’ s home in South London .
He ’ s also eager to be vaccinated against COVID-19 so he can go back to work .
“ I ’ d encourage everyone to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine .

He’ll be home for Christmas.
Britain’s longest-suffering coronavirus patient — hospitalized for 222 days, or nearly eight months — is a father of five whose family more than once refused to let him be taken off life support, according to the Mirror.
Now their faith in dad Ali Sakallioglu, 57, has been rewarded.
“I was given zero chance of survival, so it feels like a miracle to be able to celebrate Christmas,” he said.
“On three different occasions they phoned my daughter and told her to get everyone down because I wasn’t going to make it,” he recalled.
Now, he said, “I can’t wait for Christmas – I have to be careful as I want to be here next Christmas.”
The cabbie will be sitting down to dinner on the holiday with his girlfriend, one of his sons and the son’s girlfriend at the family’s home in South London.
He’s also eager to be vaccinated against COVID-19 so he can go back to work.
“I’d encourage everyone to get it,” Sakallioglu said of the vaccine.


newyorkpost--2020-12-19--Pandemic can’t stop volunteers who care for San Francisco’s wild parrots

Some of San Francisco ’ s most colorful characters are sick — but not even a pandemic can stop those who try to nurse them back to health .
A handful of the famed wild parrots — whose squawks and colorful plumage grace the city ’ s streets — can never be re-released into the wild after being poisoned by bromethalin , a popular rodenticide , according to SF Gate .
Unable to survive on their own , the sickened parrots — also known as cherry-headed conures — rely on volunteers who bring the birds into their homes to care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking care of eight such chatty creatures : April , Lyon , Beale , Clay , Julian , Mooshi , Capp and Guerrero .
As chief operations officer of the nonprofit bird rescue Mickaboo , Lemarie has helped transition the organization online as the coronavirus swept through , limiting operations .
“ I was trying to take a personal sabbatical , ” she told the news outlet .
“ My plan was to take a year off and get some sleep and read and exercise .
But with COVID changing the context of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was fortunate I had the capacity to help .
”

Some of San Francisco’s most colorful characters are sick — but not even a pandemic can stop those who try to nurse them back to health.
A handful of the famed wild parrots — whose squawks and colorful plumage grace the city’s streets — can never be re-released into the wild after being poisoned by bromethalin, a popular rodenticide, according to SF Gate.
Unable to survive on their own, the sickened parrots — also known as cherry-headed conures — rely on volunteers who bring the birds into their homes to care for them.
Sarah Lemarie is currently taking care of eight such chatty creatures: April, Lyon, Beale, Clay, Julian, Mooshi, Capp and Guerrero.
As chief operations officer of the nonprofit bird rescue Mickaboo, Lemarie has helped transition the organization online as the coronavirus swept through, limiting operations.
“I was trying to take a personal sabbatical,” she told the news outlet. “My plan was to take a year off and get some sleep and read and exercise. But with COVID changing the context of Mickaboo’s operations so significantly, it was fortunate I had the capacity to help.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-19--Apple closes all California locations amid rising COVID-19 cases

Apple is temporarily closing all stores in California amid an ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases in the state .
All 53 stores will be shuttered until further notice due to California ’ s alarming rise in hospitalization , Apple said in a statement to CNBC .
“ Due to current Covid-19 conditions in some of the communities we serve , we are temporarily closing stores in these areas , ” an Apple spokesperson told the outlet .
“ We take this step with an abundance of caution as we closely monitor the situation and we look forward to having our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible.
” Customers will still be able to pick up existing online orders and attend scheduled tech support appointments .
The drastic move comes after the tech giant closed its stores in Los Angeles , Bloomberg reported Friday .
The Apple shutdowns follow a grim milestone for Southern California , where health officials there said Thursday that the region has run out ICU beds for patients .
California has seen over 1,800,000 confirmed coronavirus cases , and more than 22,400 deaths as Saturday night , according to the state ’ s COVID-19 dashboard @

Apple is temporarily closing all stores in California amid an ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.
All 53 stores will be shuttered until further notice due to California’s alarming rise in hospitalization, Apple said in a statement to CNBC.
“Due to current Covid-19 conditions in some of the communities we serve, we are temporarily closing stores in these areas,” an Apple spokesperson told the outlet.
“We take this step with an abundance of caution as we closely monitor the situation and we look forward to having our teams and customers back as soon as possible.”
Customers will still be able to pick up existing online orders and attend scheduled tech support appointments.
The drastic move comes after the tech giant closed its stores in Los Angeles, Bloomberg reported Friday.
The Apple shutdowns follow a grim milestone for Southern California, where health officials there said Thursday that the region has run out ICU beds for patients.
California has seen over 1,800,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, and more than 22,400 deaths as Saturday night, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.


newyorkpost--2020-12-19--Price of The Weeknd’s California mansion slashed by $3M

The asking price for The Weeknd ’ s California mansion has been slashed by $ 3 million .
The “ @ @ @ @ @ listed his 12,500-square-foot Hidden Hills estate at nearly $ 25 million in June , but @ @ @ @ @ luck closing the deal .
Now , the Canadian singer ’ s luxurious home is @ @ @ @ @ under $ 22 million , still $ 4 million more than what he purchased it @ @ @ @ @ to Robb Report .
The Weeknd ’ s compound has 9 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms @ @ @ @ @ wine cellar that has disco-style LED lighting , according to the luxury-lifestyle magazine .
The @ @ @ @ @ garage decked out with LED lights , white marble fireplaces in the living and dining @ @ @ @ @ kitchen with state of the art stainless appliances .

The asking price for The Weeknd’s California mansion has been slashed by $3 million.
The “Blinding Lights” singer originally listed his 12,500-square-foot Hidden Hills estate at nearly $25 million in June, but hasn’t had any luck closing the deal.
Now, the Canadian singer’s luxurious home is up for sale at just under $22 million, still $4 million more than what he purchased it for in 2017, according to Robb Report.
The Weeknd’s compound has 9 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, plus a massive climate-controlled wine cellar that has disco-style LED lighting, according to the luxury-lifestyle magazine.
The home also features a five-car garage decked out with LED lights, white marble fireplaces in the living and dining rooms, and a gourmet kitchen with state of the art stainless appliances.
Other features include a home theater, a gym, a large pool and a full-size basketball court.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Scorching heat leading to record migrant border deaths in Arizona

Well , that didn ’ t take long .
A border crisis is brewing ...

The number of migrants found dead after crossing from Mexico into Arizona’s extremely hot deserts, valleys and mountains, could be the highest in 10 years, authorities say.
In recent years, border enforcement efforts in California and Texas have helped drive people into Arizona’s more difficult terrain. Meanwhile, officials and activists believe stepped-up construction of President Trump’s border wall this year, largely in Arizona, could be pushing migrants into dangerous areas without access to food and water.
Between January and November, there were 214 confirmed or suspected migrants whose deaths at the Arizona border, according the nonprofit Humane Borders and the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office, which together map recoveries of human remains.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that the high temperatures have had a lot to do with it,” said Mike Kreyche, Humane Borders’ mapping coordinator.
The highest annual number that the project documented was 224 in 2010. It wasn’t clear if 2020 would exceed that once December is factored in.
Pima County Medical Examiner Dr. Greg Hess told the county board of supervisors in October that high temperatures and dry weather were apparently the reason more bodies were found this year. While recoveries included skeletons, many deaths were recent.
The National Weather Service in Phoenix said the average high temperature was nearly 110 degrees in July and nearly 111 in August, helping make it the hottest summer in history. Phoenix’s highs tend to be roughly the same as those in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert just north of the boundary with Mexico, forecasters say.
Some officials and activists working near the Arizona border believe wall construction could be sending migrants into riskier places. The Trump administration expects about 450 miles of border wall to be done by year’s end, much of it in Arizona.
“The wall has sent a lot of people to rough terrain in our area,” said Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada, whose jurisdiction includes Nogales, Arizona. “It’s like driving livestock into a canyon where they ultimately die.”
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada, the Santa Cruz County sheriff, said he’s worried officials may see higher numbers of deaths next year if big groups of migrants surge to the border, hoping Joe Biden’s administration is more welcoming.
“These people will keep coming because most of them have nothing back home,” Estrada said.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Jets report card: Score one for Adam Gase

As Sam Darnold kneeled on the ball three times to ...

Grading the Jets following Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Rams.
Offense
The Jets were not an unstoppable force by any means, but they did enough to win, gaining 289 yards against the NFL’s No. 1 defense. QB Sam Darnold (22 of 31, 207 yards, 1 TD, 99.8 rating) played his best game of the season. He was efficient and did not turn the ball over. RB Frank Gore (23 rushes, 59 yards, 1 TD, 1 catch, 6 yards) came up with some huge plays down the stretch, including the game-clinching first down.
Grade: B
Defense
Interim defensive coordinator Frank Bush’s unit set the tone for the game by forcing two three-and-outs to start the game. Rookie Bryce Hall notched his first interception and the Jets did a good job limiting big plays and making tackles, especially early in the game. Rams QB Jared Goff (22 of 34, 209 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 89.0 rating) looked uncomfortable for large portions of the game. Jets safety Marcus Maye made the play of the day, breaking up Goff’s fourth-down pass to stop the Rams late.
Grade: A
Special Teams
J.T. Hassell got a huge punt block in the first half to set up a Jets field goal. Punter Braden Mann did his best work on a game-saving tackle in the fourth quarter. Kicker Sam Ficken returned and booted three field goals. Other than the long punt return they gave up, it was a good day for the special teams.
Grade: A-
Coaching
Adam Gase has been a punching bag for fans and media for the entire season, but he kept this team together somehow and had a good game plan on Sunday to get the team’s first win. Bush had a tremendous plan to stop the Rams offense and his players played hard for him. Gase botched the end of the first half, but we’ll overlook that on a day when he got his first win of the year.
Grade: B


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--St. John’s handles Georgetown for win it really needed

Mike Anderson insisted this wasn ’ t a must-win game .
Every game , he said after his team ’ s most recent loss , has equal importance as almost all coaches will say .
That of course is true .
No game counts more than any other .
But when you have lost your first three league games , and a 12-day break looms , well , Sunday night contest against Georgetown sure felt extra important .
That was obvious in the Red Storm ’ s performance , in their focus and in their attention to detail in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arena .
They played with purpose and precision .
There were fewer defensive lapses .
Less one-pass possessions .
It wasn ’ t a perfect performance — the Johnnies closed the first half poorly and saw a 16-point lead cut to two early in the second half — but it was an improvement .
It was a step in the right direction .
A 1-3 league record beats 0-4 .
St. John ’ s put the game away with a 16-3 run , turning a six-point edge into a 19-point bulge .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Vince Cole — produced all of the offense in the run .
Greg Williams Jr. was an offensive force , scoring a career-high 26 points , and Julian Champagnie produced one of his best all-around games , notching 20 points , nine rebounds and four assists .
The defense , a surprising weakness for much of the year , limited the Hoyas to 42 percent shooting from the field .
The Johnnies blocked seven shots .
They shared the ball , dishing out 19 assists , and possessed balanced scoring , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. John ’ s can enter this break relieved , and look to string together consecutive wins when DePaul comes to Queens on Jan. 2 .
For the first time in weeks St. John ’ s ( 6-4 , 1-3 ) held a halftime lead .
It was up 49-41 and in control after one of its best opening 20 minutes of the season .
The Red Storm were red-hot from deep , sinking 10 3-pointers and were moving the ball , with 14 assists on 20 made field goals .
An 11-0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tone and a 15-4 burst later in the half pushed the lead to 16 .
There was slippage , though , which let the Hoyas climb to within eight at the break .
The Red Storm ’ s defense , so attentive and focused for most of the half , sagged and Georgetown closed on an 11-5 run .
The momentum carried over in the second half , the Hoyas able to get within two after a Jahvon Blair layup .
Momentum felt like it was turning .
St. John ’ s had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the shot clock was winding down on an empty possession .
In trouble , Champagnie found Williams in the left corner .
He forced up the shot and it fell .
St. John ’ s was able to exhale .
Soon , the lead would be back to eight , then 10 , then 18 and 20 .
A first Big East victory for the Red Storm was now an inevitability .

Players and coaches came together, giving several different voices within the program the chance to be heard.
St. John’s was 0-3 in the Big East, off to the kind of slow start that has derailed seasons, coming off an 18-point home loss to Creighton.
“We knew that something [different] needed to take place,” junior guard Greg Williams Jr.
The focus of the meeting was to stress the importance of everyone getting on the same page. The Red Storm had to play together. They had to be connected. They had to share the ball and defend as one unit. Help if someone was beaten off the dribble. Make the extra pass.
Sunday night, facing a rare must-win December game with a long layoff to follow, those changes were evident. The Johnnies played with more focus and purpose. They had a sense of urgency. They were intense and communicated. They built an early 16-point lead. When it got cut to two, they rebuilt it to 20.
“It was a step in the right direction,” Williams said after St. John’s notched its first league win, 94-83, over Georgetown at Carnesecca Arena. “We just played together and we played for each other. We played with a lot of trust and it led to a lot of good things.”
Posh Alexander drives to the basket for St. John’s. Robert Sabo
There were fewer defensive lapses. Fewer one-pass possessions. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was an improvement. It was a step in the right direction. A 1-3 league record beats 0-4.
St. John’s (6-4, 1-3) put the game away with a 16-3 run, turning a six-point edge into a 19-point bulge with 8:31 remaining. The newcomers — Isaih Moore, Posh Alexander and Vince Cole — produced all of the offense in the run. Williams was a consistent offensive force, scoring a career-high 26 points, and leading scorer Julian Champagnie had one of his best all-around performances of the year, notching 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Cole, a junior college All-American, scored 17 points in his return to the starting lineup, after producing just 18 in his first three conference games.
“Some guys, when they come off the bench, they just try and fit in, and I want him to do more than that because he has that kind of talent,” coach Mike Anderson said.
St. John’s shared the ball, dishing out 19 assists, and enjoyed balanced scoring, with five players in double figures. The defense, a surprising weakness for much of the year, limited the Hoyas (3-4, 1-2) to 43 percent shooting from the field. The Storm blocked seven shots. Anderson saw a different attitude early on the defensive end, one he has preached the team to take on over the last week.
“We didn’t come out with the [expectation] that we were going to beat people with our offense, and I thought that was the difference in the game,” Anderson said. “We came out with a defensive mindset, trusting in one another and sometimes you have those setbacks in order to have some comebacks.”
Now they can enter this break relieved, and look to string together consecutive wins when DePaul comes to Queens on Jan. 2. Perhaps, St. John’s found a winning formula.
“We know what our potential is,” Williams said. “When we’re playing right, a lot of great things happen. It was just a matter of us playing how we know we can.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Sam Darnold absolutely thrilled after Jets finally win

Thanks , but no tanks .
That was the message from the ...

As Sam Darnold kneeled on the ball three times to end the Jets’ first win of the season, the quarterback could not help but smile.
“It’s the greatest feeling in sports to be able to ice the game out and to know we had it,” Darnold said. “It’s the best.”
Darnold played his best game of the season in the Jets’ first win of the year. Darnold was efficient and did not turn the ball over. He did not make any spectacular deep throws, but played a heady game and made plays when he had to. The biggest throw was a third-and-6 pass to running back Frank Gore that secured the win.
“He did a great job,” coach Adam Gase said. “He made the right decisions. There was no panic. He was calm through the entire game. That third-down play was textbook of going through his progression and finding the back. Good thing we had a Hall of Fame running back in there that seems to make plays at the right time.”
Darnold went 22-for-31 for 207 yards with a touchdown pass. The key for Darnold was getting rid of the ball quickly to avoid the Rams’ fearsome pass rush, led by Aaron Donald. Darnold was sacked just twice in the game, but Donald had none.
“It was huge,” Darnold said. “That was our game plan coming in. We knew they were going to disrupt us up front, and I knew I just had to get the ball out.”
Rookie punter Braden Mann made the biggest tackle in the game. Rams punt returner Nsimba Webster broke off a 34-yard return with five minutes left in the game, but it looked like he was going to go all the way until Mann tackled him at the Jets’ 43. The defense stopped the Rams there.
“Braden Mann, game-saving tackle,” Darnold said. “Can’t say enough about him and his effort. I think he’s made a couple of those this year.”
DL Quinnen Williams left the game with a concussion. He was the only player who did not return to the game.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Sean McVay embarrassed after losing to the Jets

What ’ s it like losing to a winless Jets team ?
“ Embarrassing , ” Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters after his team fell to the Jets , 23-20 , on Sunday .
The Rams were favored by more than two touchdowns against the Jets , who entered the matchup having lost their first 13 games .
But everything went right for the Jets on this day , as their offense was efficient and their defense fantastic .
It was their first win in 357 days .
For the 9-5 Rams , “ this loss will demoralize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to , ” McVay said .
“ It ’ s gon na be embarrassing , sick to your stomach about it , but we do have two games left and we have got to find a way to rebound and respond on a short week , not really a short week but this week , as we get ready for the Seahawks .
But very humbling and it ’ s going to be humbling , but we ’ re going to move forward and that ’ s exactly what we ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know how to do .
”

What’s it like losing to a winless Jets team?
“Embarrassing,” Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters after his team fell to the Jets, 23-20, on Sunday.
The Rams were favored by more than two touchdowns against the Jets, who entered the matchup having lost their first 13 games.
But everything went right for the Jets as they won for the first time in 357 days.
For the 9-5 Rams, “this loss will demoralize us only as much as we allow it to,” McVay said. “It’s gonna be embarrassing, sick to your stomach about it… But very humbling.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Fort Drum soldier found dead in New Jersey days after reported missing

An Army soldier who was reported missing from Fort Drum was found dead in a wooded area in New Jersey on Saturday , according to officials and a report .
Cpl .
Hayden Harris , 20 , was found shot to death off Ross Road in Sussex County — and a fellow Army Soldier suspected in his killing was taken into custody , Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller told NJ.com .
“ We are devastated , ” Brigadier Gen. Brett Funck , acting senior commander for Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division , said in a statement announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well known here that Cpl .
Harris was a great Soldier , and as we share our grief with his friends and family .
His death is a tremendous loss for his loved ones , this division and our nation , ” Funck said in the statement .
Harris , of Guys , Tennessee , was last heard from sometime late Thursday night into Friday morning , according to a release from the US Army .
The soldier was supposed to be driving his 2016 Ford Mustang Coupe to Watertown for what army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle transaction.
” Harris ’ body was found by police after members of the Byram Township fire department spotted blood , a pair of shoes and paperwork on Ross Road , according to NJ.com .
His suspected killer , who is being held by New York authorities , is expected to face extradition to New Jersey after charges are filed in Sussex County , the report said .
Harris joined the Army in March 2019 and was assigned to Fort Drum in July 2019 .
He leaves behind his mother , father and @ @ @ @ @ @

A soldier who was reported missing from Fort Drum was found dead in a wooded area in New Jersey on Saturday, according to officials and a report.
Army Cpl. Hayden Harris, 20, was found shot to death off Ross Road in Sussex County — and a fellow soldier suspected in his killing was taken into custody, Sussex County First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller told NJ.com.
“We are devastated,” Brig. Gen. Brett Funck, acting senior commander for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, said in a statement announcing Harris’ death.
“It was well known here that Cpl. Harris was a great Soldier, and as we share our grief with his friends and family. His death is a tremendous loss for his loved ones, this division and our nation,” Funck said in the statement.
Harris, of Guys, Tennessee, was last heard from sometime late Thursday into early Friday, according to a release from the US Army.
The soldier was supposed to be driving his 2016 Ford Mustang coupe to Watertown for what Army officials described as “some type of vehicle transaction.”
Harris’ body was found by police after members of the Byram Township fire department spotted blood, a pair of shoes and paperwork on Ross Road, according to NJ.com.
His suspected killer, who is being held by New York authorities, is expected to face extradition to New Jersey after charges are filed in Sussex County, the report said.
Harris joined the Army in March 2019 and was assigned to Fort Drum in July 2019. He leaves behind his mother, father and sister, Army officials said.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Tom Thibodeau’s strategy to drive Knicks with analytics

Now that was a preseason befitting the No .
3 pick ...

During his unemployment after his Minnesota stint, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau visited MIT’s famous Sloan Analytics Conference, led by former Rockets/current Sixers GM Daryl Morey.
Thibodeau, who worked under Morey in Houston, has embraced the world of analytics despite his old-school reputation. A fastidious preparer, the 62-year-old coach regards the analytic of net efficiency as his most important barometer — combining the critical offensive stat with the critical defensive stat into one number.
The theorem combines a team’s points per 100 possessions, minus the opponent’s points per possession. In their 3-1 preseason, the Knicks finished fifth in net efficiency.
“Analytics has given us a lot of information,’’ Thibodeau said. “We’re always looking at the numbers and refer to our eyes, observation and what the coaches are talking about and the numbers will either confirm those things that you’re thinking or give you pause to rethink things.
“When you think about it, the net efficiency is probably the biggest thing because you want to be strong on both sides of the ball,’’ Thibodeau added. “So you’re striving to be a top-10 team in points per possession offensively and points per possession defensively.’’
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau Getty Images
Knicks president Leon Rose bolstered the analytics department with hires of Sean MacLean, a Wharton product who was a treasury analyst for Capital One Bank, and Kelsey Roberts, who worked with the Pacers.
Other analytic formulas Thibodeau is attuned to is rebounding percentages, turnover efficiency and sabermetrics on the type of shots at which the team excels.
Analyzing preseason numbers — four games against two bottom-dwelling teams — is not always the best indicator. The Pistons and Cavaliers are expected to be watching the lottery pingpong balls bounce this spring. The Cavaliers didn’t play their top players, including Kevin Love.
“That’s exactly what it is — preseason,’’ Thibodeau said. “Teams are experimenting with a lot of different things and not playing their whole roster like a regular-season game. So it’s a whole different level you have to go to in the regular season. We have to understand that. What we’re locked into is our daily improvement and be ready for Indiana when it opens up.
“You’re 0-0 now,’’ Thibodeau added.
The first group practice wasn’t until Dec. 6.
“It’s been basically two weeks,’’ Thibodeau said. “It comes up fast. It’s how quickly can we all adapt. Defensively we made some good strides, but we’ll be tested in a lot of different ways as you move forward. Indiana is a very tough team, particularly at home. We’ll have to be ready to play for 48 minutes.’’


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Nets raising expectations with big defensive change

After an 18-month rehab and a great preseason , the Nets ’ ...

Despite opening the season Tuesday vs. Golden State in an empty Barclays Center, the Nets aren’t letting the COVID-19 pandemic, or weird year it has wrought, derail their NBA Finals aspirations. They still need championship focus, including learning to play title-worthy defense.
“There’s really no way to describe just everything that has been going on this year. Coming into the season, I still don’t know how to describe it,” said Jarrett Allen. “It’s a highly anticipated season, people were looking forward to this since a year and a half [ago]. It sucks that we can’t have fans, our big supporters in there. We just have to take it day by day like we have, even when we weren’t contenders.”
Like Allen, Joe Harris has been with the Nets since they were closer to cellar dwellers. And he admits being one of a majority of league teams playing with no fans is different, but so is just about everything in 2020.
“We understand coming into the season everything’s very unusual,” said Harris. “We’re certainly trying to make the most of the situation. It hasn’t altered our expectations, even though it is an unusual dynamic. We still have championship aspirations, and we’re not shy in terms of discussing it and trying to build those habits, ingrain those things early.”
Jarrett Allen defends Isaac Bonga. Corey Sipkin
Those championship aspirations may rest on ingraining a more aggressive defense. They played a conservative style under Kenny Atkinson, but interim coach Jacque Vaughn deployed a more disruptive scheme in the Orlando bubble. Despite inconsistent results, Steve Nash feels it’s better-suited to beat playoff-level foes and plans to keep that style with Vaughn as his de facto defensive coordinator.
“If you talk to the coaches, it’s like ‘We want to put in the defense that wins playoffs.’ There are certain defenses that you can get through the regular season with, but when it comes down to the last couple of people, you want to be able to have a defensive scheme that stops them,” Allen said. “So, that’s what we’re really trying to implement and the pace that we’re going at.”
Installing that has been Nash’s focus in camp, with practice time expected to be scarce once this condensed five-month season gets underway.
“I’ve been proud of the way they’ve competed defensively, lot of good things, but a long way to go, as you’d expect. What’ve we had, 10, 11 practices?” Nash asked rhetorically. “That’s something that’s going to be a journey defensively all season to continue to climb and be the best defensive team we can be.”
Golden State’s Draymond Green is doubtful with a muscle strain in his right foot. His spat with Kevin Durant hastened the latter’s move to Brooklyn.
“If he does play, obviously, we realize what he’s able to do on both ends of the floor, how he’s able to create for his teammates, the pace he plays with and then what he does defensively,” said Harris.
Ex-Net and Knick Jeremy Lin’s plan to sign with the Warriors’ G-League team collapsed when his Letter of Clearance didn’t arrive by Saturday’s waiver deadline.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Seton Hall’s win streak snapped with OT loss to Providence

A.J .
Reeves hit a wide-open corner 3-pointer on a busted play with 3.1 seconds left in overtime to lead Providence to an 80-77 win over Seton Hall at Prudential Center on Sunday .
On the following possession for the Pirates , Takal Molson missed a 3-pointer , and the Friars hung on for the victory .
Providence hadn ’ t played in 11 days because of COVID-19 issues and was led by 23 points , tying his career high , and 11 rebounds from Nate Watson and 18 points and 10 rebounds from David Duke .
It was Duke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving for a score with about five seconds left only to draw three defenders .
He managed to stop without drawing a travel call and threaded a bounce pass to Reeves who was wide open in the far corner .
Reeves scored seven points for Providence ( 5-2 , 1-0 Big East ) , which has won its last three .
The Pirates ’ Sandro Mamukelashvili converted a three-point play to even the score at 72 with 8 seconds left in regulation and send the game to overtime .
Mamukelashvili had 20 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5-4 , 2-1 ) , whose four-game win streak ended .
Myles Cale and Jared Rhoden each added 16 points .

A.J. Reeves hit a wide-open corner 3-pointer on a busted play with 3.1 seconds left in overtime to lead Providence to an 80-77 win over Seton Hall at Prudential Center on Sunday.
On the following possession for the Pirates, Takal Molson missed a 3-pointer, and the Friars hung on for the victory.
Providence hadn’t played in 11 days because of COVID-19 issues and was led by 23 points, tying his career high, and 11 rebounds from Nate Watson and 18 points and 10 rebounds from David Duke.
It was Duke who curled in from the right side driving for a score with about five seconds left only to draw three defenders. He managed to stop without drawing a travel call and threaded a bounce pass to Reeves who was wide open in the far corner.
Reeves scored seven points for Providence (5-2, 1-0 Big East), which has won its last three.
The Pirates’ Sandro Mamukelashvili converted a three-point play to even the score at 72 with 8 seconds left in regulation and send the game to overtime. Mamukelashvili had 20 points and six assists for the Pirates (5-4, 2-1), whose four-game win streak ended. Myles Cale and Jared Rhoden each added 16 points.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--AT&T disappointed with offers for struggling DirecTV

AT & T is in talks with private-equity firms to sell a ...

AT&T’s attempt to unload DirecTV has been thrown into doubt, as the telecom giant has signaled it’s unhappy with the offers it has received for the struggling satellite TV service, The Post has learned.
Earlier this month, AT&T pushed back a deadline for final bids for DirecTV into January — and told prospective bidders it may cancel the auction altogether if it doesn’t get better offers, according to sources close to the situation.
On Dec. 9, the Wall Street Journal reported that a fresh round of bids came in at more than $15 billion including debt. But insiders tell The Post that AT&T — dissatisfied with those offers — has invited private equity giant TPG Capital to study the books in hopes that it will make a binding offer that props up the price.
Other participants include Apollo Global Management, which, according to sources, offered less than $15 billion including debt; and investing tycoon Michael Klein’s blank-check company Churchill Capital Corp. IV.
Indeed, AT&T’s threat to cancel the auction appears to have surprised bidders, including Klein. Last week, Klein priced a second blank-check company, Churchill Capital Corp. V, at $450 million, leading some to speculate he had been confident of closing the DirecTV deal this month.
Now, Klein — who, according to one source, had voiced optimism about “good news” regarding DirecTV in the coming days — is in the unusual position of having two blank-check companies searching for deals.
Bidders are surprised by AT&T’s threat to pack up and go home partly because its DirecTV business continues to shrink amid rising competition with video-streaming platforms like Netflix — and, more recently, AT&T’s own HBO Max service.
Last week, a report by New Street Research predicted that DirecTV’s EBITDA — or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, a key financial metric — will plunge to $3 billion in 2022 from around $4.5 billion this year.
Sources said buyout proposals in the $15 billion range call for the purchaser to pay something close to $3.75 billion in exchange for a 49 percent stake in the company, with AT&T keeping a slightly larger sum to maintain a majority interest. The remaining $7.5 billion would be financed by new debt.
AT&T, which didn’t return a request for comment, could use the proceeds to participate in upcoming spectrum auctions, pay down debt or to pay dividends, sources said.
Nevertheless, that’s a painful markdown for AT&T, whose former chief executive Randall Stephenson in 2015 shelled out $49 billion for DirecTV plus a mountain of debt that brought the total to $66 billion.
The fact that bids didn’t improve enough in the latest round appears to have rankled AT&T’s new boss, John Stankey, who wants to retain a majority stake in the satellite TV unit while giving the winning bidder operating control of the company for tax reasons.
New Street Research believes AT&T also needs the proceeds to compete in upcoming auctions of cellular spectrum.
DirecTV is still bleeding subscribers after offering promotions at discounts that were too steep, a source close to the auction said.
In the third quarter, DirecTV lost 690,000 net customers, leaving it with 13.6 million, according to cable TV research consultant Bruce Leichtman.
Compared to last year, DirecTV’s subscriber base has plummeted 19 percent versus a 3.8 percent drop at archrival Dish Network and a 6 percent drop at cable TV giant Comcast. While Leichtman believes the worst may be over for DirecTV, he said it likely will continue to lose more customers than its peers.
“There will need to be more of a focus now on acquiring customers,” Leichtman said. “If there is a different owner of DirecTV, that’s going to diminish losses.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--New York’s restaurant-killing rules make no sense — and it keeps getting worse

On Thursday , New York City issued a brain-numbing “ COVID-19 Dining Update ” for restaurants .
Among the new rules : Employees would be barred from eating inside any part of the restaurant normally used by patrons .
Orders for takeout could only be placed via e-mail or telephone .
Most shockingly , patrons dining at a restaurant ’ s outdoor seating area couldn ’ t use the restroom inside .
It seemed like Kafkaesque satire for the pandemic age .
But no , emblazoned at the top of the notice was the official logo of the Office of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backlash ensued .
Our leaders , full of holiday benevolence , bent just this once and allowed patrons sitting outdoors in 30-degree weather to use restaurant bathrooms .
They will now also allow t people to come inside the establishment to place and pick up to-go orders .
But only until 10 p.m. — after which time food must be picked up curbside or through a window .
Don ’ t try too hard to make sense of any of this from a pandemic-fighting perspective .
You ’ ll only give yourself a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just the latest serving of hell dished out to restaurateurs and their workers by a political class that continues to receive regular paychecks courtesy of taxpayers .
With few exceptions like City Councilman Joe Borelli , few dare state the obvious : that destroying the restaurant industry isn ’ t going to stop the spread of the coronavirus — and was never going to .
Indeed , on the day Gov .
Andrew Cuomo shuttered indoor dining in the Big Apple , he produced a chart that showed restaurants were responsible for only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor closed the restaurants anyway .
Tina Plagos , owner of three Souvlaki GR restaurants in Manhattan , tells me , “ We haven ’ t had a profit since February and have bought air purifiers , heaters , a ton of extra cleaning supplies , masks , hand sanitizer and have spent thousands to build and rebuild the outdoor seating area.
” It ’ s the absurdity that enrages : “ In Long Island , customers can sit and eat at the bar six feet apart , but in New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bar .
You can ’ t order a drink at the bar , let alone eat at the bar.
” If restaurants are dangerous , why are they closed only in New York City , not throughout the state ?
Why are nearly all of our elected officials silent , shivering in their boots rather than taking a stand for the businesses that make our city run ?
Our restaurant industry is suffering abuse , and the politicos won ’ t say anything .
Rafi Hasid , owner of the restaurant 1803 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , says he has spent at least $ 10,000 per restaurant to keep up with the constant regulatory shifts .
“ In the beginning , ” he recalls , “ they said they ’ re going to allow propane heaters .
But then they said you can ’ t have them on the street side or on the outside of the sidewalk .
Then they said you can ’ t keep the propane tanks on your property and must store them at a different location every night .
So that was a wasted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capsuled the outdoor seating , so every table has its own personal area .
The Health Department said it ’ s good .
Then the Fire Department said we need a door , and it should be closed .
Then yesterday , we got an e-mail from the city that the door can ’ t be closed , because the space needs to be open on two sides .
We keep investing money but what ’ s the criteria to open indoor dining again ?
We have no idea.
” The arbitrary 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ludicrous notion that the virus hunts at night — is particularly crushing .
If restaurants have a reservation at 6:30 p.m. that lasts until 8:30 , the following reservation either has to have a shortened meal or they can ’ t take accept it at all .
“ Restaurants are mainly family-owned and made up of mainly minorities , ” Plagos adds .
“ They aren ’ t corporate America .
We were living the American dream of working hard and taking care of our families , and now they took that right @ @ @ @ @

On Thursday, New York City issued a brain-numbing “COVID-19 Dining Update” for restaurants. Among the new rules: Employees would be barred from eating inside any part of the restaurant normally used by patrons. Orders for takeout could only be placed via email or telephone. Most shockingly, patrons dining at a restaurant’s outdoor seating area couldn’t use the restroom inside.
It seemed like Kafkaesque satire for the pandemic age. But no, emblazoned at the top of the notice was the official logo of the Office of the Counsel to the Mayor.
A backlash ensued. Our leaders, full of holiday benevolence, bent just this once and allowed patrons sitting outdoors in 30-degree weather to use restaurant bathrooms. They will now also allow people to come inside the establishment to place and pick up to-go orders. But only until 10 p.m. — after which time food must be picked up curbside or through a window.
Don’t try too hard to make sense of any of this from a pandemic-fighting perspective. You’ll only give yourself a headache.
The new city diktats are just the latest serving of hell dished out to restaurateurs and their workers by a political class that continues to receive regular paychecks courtesy of taxpayers.
With few exceptions like City Councilman Joe Borelli, few dare state the obvious: that destroying the restaurant industry isn’t going to stop the spread of the coronavirus — and was never going to.
Indeed, on the day Gov. Andrew Cuomo shuttered indoor dining in the Big Apple, he produced a chart that showed restaurants were responsible for only 1.4 percent of the spread. The governor closed the restaurants anyway.
Tina Plagos, owner of three Souvlaki GR restaurants in Manhattan, tells me, “We haven’t had a profit since February and have bought air purifiers, heaters, a ton of extra cleaning supplies, masks, hand sanitizer and have spent thousands to build and rebuild the outdoor seating area.”
It’s the absurdity that enrages: “In Long Island, customers can sit and eat at the bar six feet apart, but in New York City, no one is allowed near the bar. You can’t order a drink at the bar, let alone eat at the bar.”
If restaurants are dangerous, why are they closed only in New York City, not throughout the state? Why are nearly all of our elected officials silent, shivering in their boots rather than taking a stand for the businesses that make our city run? Our restaurant industry is suffering abuse, and the politicos won’t say anything.
Rafi Hasid, owner of the restaurant 1803 in Tribeca and Miriam in Brooklyn and Manhattan, says he has spent at least $10,000 per restaurant to keep up with the constant regulatory shifts.
“In the beginning,” he recalls, “they said they’re going to allow propane heaters. But then they said you can’t have them on the street side or on the outside of the sidewalk. Then they said you can’t keep the propane tanks on your property and must store them at a different location every night. So that was a wasted purchase.”
He continues: “We capsuled the outdoor seating, so every table has its own personal area. The Health Department said it’s good. Then the Fire Department said we need a door, and it should be closed. Then yesterday, we got an email from the city that the door can’t be closed, because the space needs to be open on two sides. We keep investing money but what’s the criteria to open indoor dining again? We have no idea.”
The arbitrary 10 p.m. close time — premised on the ludicrous notion that the virus hunts at night — is particularly crushing. If restaurants have a reservation at 6:30 p.m. that lasts until 8:30, the following reservation either has to have a shortened meal or they can’t accept it at all.
“Restaurants are mainly family-owned and made up of mainly minorities,” Plagos adds. “They aren’t corporate America. We were living the American dream of working hard and taking care of our families, and now they took that right away from us.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--Jaguars in driver’s seat to draft Trevor Lawrence after Jets win

The Jets finally won a game — but they may ...

The Jets finally won a game — but they may have lost the tanking war.
Sunday’s 23-20 upset of the Rams resulted in the Jets losing their grip on the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft — and with it, the right to select star Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Instead the Jacksonville Jaguars, also 1-13, are in position to secure the first pick, due to having an easier schedule.
The Jets entered the season with the third toughest schedule, while Jacksonville had the 22nd most difficult slate.
While there has been speculation Lawrence could spurn both teams and stay at Clemson another season, he hinted last week that would not be the case.
“I think I’m ready,” Lawrence said on “The Dan Patrick Show”. “I think just being here at Clemson, my journey has taught me a lot. I’ve grown up a lot the past few years. I’m really just ready to take on whatever challenge it is and just have that opportunity.”
That opportunity seemingly won’t take place in The Big Apple.
The Jaguars haven’t won since Week 1 against the Colts, and they’ve progressively looked worse with each passing game.
On Sunday Jacksonville was demolished by the Ravens, 40-14. It faces the Bears (7-7) next week before ending the season with a rematch against the 10-4 Colts.
Meanwhile the Jets finish their season with games against the 9-4 Browns and 6-8 Patriots — who they lost to by only three in November.


newyorkpost--2020-12-20--We need to save Manhattan retail to protect jobs for outer-borough dwellers

America ’ s still shopping this Thanksgiving weekend — but we ’ re doing ...

Before COVID-19, employment in New York was at a record high, with nearly 4.1 million private-economy jobs. And one of the biggest engines of growth was a career opportunity that has existed since Roman times: the supposedly humble job in a store. Without a fast revival in core Manhattan, many of these jobs are in peril — as are the outer-borough neighborhoods where retail workers live.
For the three decades since the 1990 recession, retail was an unheralded Gotham success story. Between 1993, when jobs hit a record low, and 2015, when retail employment peaked, the industry grew by more than 50 percent, to more than 352,000 jobs, from 234,000. Yes, Amazon introduced brutal competition, but the industry held its own, keeping more than 346,000 jobs at the end of 2019, or nearly 9 percent of total jobs.
Working retail is often a job for people who have never had a job before, or for people who haven’t worked in years. Retail helped push the share of New Yorkers who are connected to the labor force to 63.6 percent last year, slightly above the 63 percent national average. In 1990, by contrast, the share of New Yorkers in work or looking for work was only 61.7 percent, below the national 66.4 percent figure.
Sure, people shop in their neighborhoods. But as a new report from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s office makes clear, without dense Manhattan, tens of thousands of retail workers would have to find another line of work.
Manhattan has only 20 percent of the city’s population, but it boasted 157,000 retail jobs, or nearly half the city’s total — that is, until the pandemic and lockdowns hit. Midtown, Clinton and Chelsea alone had more than 68,000 retail jobs, or one out of every five in the city.
Midtown retail depends on Midtown’s unique concentration of residents, workers, tourists and business travelers. A separate report by NYC & Co, the city’s tourism arm, estimates that tourists and travelers spent about $8.9 billion shopping in 2018, or 16 percent of the total $55 billion in sales.
Now, visitors and commuters are gone, as boarded-up stores or stores that close early each evening attest. As for November, the retail industry was missing 41,400 jobs, compared with the previous November. It’s a safe bet that the losses are concentrated in Manhattan.
But who suffers most? Nearly 215,000 prepandemic retail workers lived in the city; the rest commuted from suburbs. They live predominantly in the boroughs.
As the comptroller’s report notes, the neighborhoods with the highest share of residents in the retail industry are The Bronx’s Belmont, Crotona Park East and East Tremont, with 10.8 percent of workers — 7,450 people — dependent on retail work. In Elmhurst and Corona in Queens, the number is 7,603 people, or 9.1 percent. By contrast, fewer than 2 percent of Upper West and Upper East Siders work in retail.
These aren’t bad jobs. A city resident who works in retail earns an average of $40,000, including part-time workers. Coupled with federal tax credits for working parents and restrictions on rent in a third of Gotham homes, retail jobs represent a stable living, a stable commute to a fixed location, generally pleasant and safe working conditions and room to move up.
Without a thriving Manhattan, these jobs won’t come back. We need our tourists and commuters, but in the meantime, the city must improve the now-forgotten borough’s quality of life. Luxury retailers have been plagued by grab-and-run robberies; thieves know that nobody is doing jail time for theft.
There are serious problems, such as the mentally ill and addicted panhandlers who greet anyone coming to Manhattan via Grand Central, Penn Station or the Port Authority. But even the random metal barriers all over Midtown are a deterrent to a long walk.
Ten months into the pandemic, the city still hasn’t stepped in with a consistent, voluntary mediation process to cut retail rents. Broke retailers that were closed for months can’t pay 2019-level rents. But an incentive, such as property-tax deferral, may help small property owners accept reality faster.
As the comptroller’s report notes, “Retail is an important part of the fabric of New York City, and a true return to normal cannot be achieved without a robust and diverse retail sector.” Nor will full employment for fragile neighborhoods come back.
Nicole Gelinas is a contributing editor of City Journal.
Twitter: @NicoleGelinas